All About Garnets

A January garnet ring makes an idea gift and is not too expensive although the garnet is one of the most beautiful of jewels.

In medieval times garnets were considered to have magic powers and able to stop bleeding and cure diseases.

When you are considering buying a January garnet ring you should ensure you buy from a reputable dealer. Preferably one that knows all about garnets. This does not mean buying from a ‘chain’ store as they will not have the specialized knowledge all about garnets .

There are many fake garnets on the market so you do need to know something about them. Reading all about garnets on this site will help you, especially the section on Buying Garnets.

When looking at a ring, check also that the garnet is securely set. It does not move around or juggle in the setting. The gold should be at least 14 Karat, any less and there would be more other metals such as nickel and copper and it is possible to have an allergic reaction to these if worn continuously.

The garnet should be clear with no or invisible inclusions (bubbles within the stone caused when it was first formed) or flaws. Examine the stone for the cut. Does the surface reflect light evenly? Check the stone for cracks, scratches and that it is a good symmetrical cut .It is a good idea to examine two or more garnets together. That way you can select the stone you like the most.

If buying on the internet ensure the seller is qualified. That is to say, is easily contactable and is a reputable seller. A good quality dealer who is willing to talk to you or if on auction such as eBay for example, a Power Seller with excellent feedback should be ok.

There is no substitute for doing due diligence and having some patience and not rushing into a decision.

Provided you keep in mind the above there is no reason why you cannot find a January garnet ring that is genuine and suits your taste.

There are a number of factors to consider when buying garnet jewelry.

Firstly always ensure you buy garnets from a trustworthy dealer or jeweler. Preferably one who specializes in precious gemstones and garnets in particular if possible.

Many gemstones are heat treated, including garnets. This is done to bring out the colors more and sometimes to even change the color of a stone. Find out if the stone has been heat treated in anyway. Also if it has been irradiated, coated or dyed. Sometimes these treatments will devalue the stone but other times may even increase the value.

Check the color of the stone. Generally speaking the deeper the color or hue the more valuable the stone will be. The gemstone should be near perfect with no visible flaws visible to the naked eye. The surface should reflect light and the stone have perfect clarity. There should be no visible flaws or scratches on the surface of the stone.

Make sure you can examine the stone from all sides and angles. Turn it over in your hand. Also try and get the opportunity to examine the stone in natural light. Many gemstones will change tone or even color in artificial light.

Pure genuine garnets are not cheap. If you are offered a cheap garnets it is most likely not genuine but a fake.

If possible get a certificate stating the type, quality and details of the stone from the dealer. Make sure it is very specific. If at anytime you discover the stone is not as described you want to be able to return it and get a refund so ensure the dealer has a returns policy that allows for this.

If the stone has been set in a ring or other metal ensure that you can see the back of the stone. This is important as if the back is blocked off then there will be limited light able to shine through and the stone will not look as good. A stone should have a claw setting and not be glued in place. Glue can deteriorate over time and the stone be lost.

Taking the above factors into consideration will assist to finding and keeping your garnet jewelry for many years to come

You can buy garnets at gemological auctions and it is easy to locate auctions using google.com and by typing in garnet auctions. Probably eBay and www.bidz,com would be the most popular. Also look out for local auctions in your town or city. Scouring the newspapers can sometimes net you an auction at which garnets are up for sale.

Jewelery and gem auctions are usually the best.

Some important points to remember when buying garnets at auctions.

If you are buying from an auction where you can attend, you will likely need to register if you intend bidding. See if you can inspect the garnets that will be auctioned. There should be a certificate to accompany the garnet or garnets or at least some information about them. Quite often these are antique garnets and if so will be a good buy if the price is right. You only need to establish that they are true garnets and not some other lesser quality stone or not even a gem at all.

Firstly you should have some understanding of the value and worth of garnets and also what your bid is going to be. This will depend on your budget and how much you want the garnets of course.

When bidding it is better not to bid at all until the very last minute when all the bidding appears to be done. Provided the price is still within your budget you can then jump in with a bid and not start a bidding war (which only benefits the seller and the auction house).

Online auctions are different. You cannot see the garnets but only a picture of them. It is difficult to asses the quality of a garnet in this case and you would be more interest in seeing a certificate of authenticity which you could compare the garnet with if you did bid and win the bid.

Ensure the auction house has provision for misrepresentation of product and a protection system for the buyer. You don’t want to bid and win an expensive garnet to find when it arrives that you have just got at best a poor quality garnet and at worse a worthless piece of glass.

Buying garnets at garnet auctions can be fun but there is no substitute for doing your due diligence.