History of the Garnet
Garnets, it is said were extensively used by the Greeks and Romans who used them for the purpose of engraving imperial portraits, while the Indians wore them against the plague and poison and to ward off ill health and lightening. Garnets are normally found in Australia, North America, Brazil and Mexico.

Being the birthstone of the January baby, it is said to have its very own seductive powers and is the ideal gift to be given to your lover. It comes in shades of red, purple, pink, yellow, brown, and orange and has a powerful shine to it. It is believed that when the garnet changes color it’s a warning to the owner, of impending danger and was therefore very much in vogue and treated as a great treasure in the ancient times.

How to Buy a Garnet B
Always go to a trusted jeweler and ask for a bracelet with genuine garnets and inquire if the stones have been treated. There are certain treatments that are carried out anyhow such as irradiation and coating to enhance the color. This does not make a difference in the value. Ask anyway.

Know what you can afford and look for a setting in that price range. Remember that large stones are more expensive and rare although there are times you might be lucky enough to find a perfectly beautiful piece from a jewelry market at a reasonable price, whereas the same piece might be sold at double the price at a small branded boutique.

When buying garnets, check for the clarity of the stones. The highest quality garnets are found mostly in Russia and have a brilliant finish to it with the pink and red garnets being the most popular, due to their vivid and even color.

Hold the bracelet against the light and see if light reflects off the surface of the stones. Check it from every angle possible to see how even the surface is. Although garnets are normally small in size, there are larger stones which can be cut into shapes to be set in a bracelet or necklace.

Most jewelers have their jewelry checked carefully before display. You must however check again before buying garnets for any visible inclusions or flaws which will bring down the value of the stone.

Don’t always buy the first bracelet you see and like. Compare a few pieces side by side and see how the colors appear to you, how transparent the stones are and the way the light reflects off the stones. Buy the bracelet that looks most appealing to you.

Check with many jewelers as possible before you settle on buying garnets. It’s very important to compare prices because most dealers are willing to negotiate if you can show them better prices from competitors.

Where to buy Garnets
There are several reputed jewelers from whom you can buy garnet bracelets. Shopping online for jewelry however, is very convenient because of the many sites they have where you can compare prices and designs within the comfort of your own home. The one negative aspect is that you cannot see and feel the luster of a particular piece of jewelry on the computer.

If you are shopping online to buy garnets, always check about the store’s return policy and ensure that you compare prices, and read about their merchant ratings and customer reviews in order to get an idea about the reputation of the store.

The garnet gemstone comes in many colors, shapes and cut variations. If you’re a jewelery lover, you’re probably familiar with the pinkish red hue of a rhodolite garnet. You know the deep orangey, red hue of the typical garnet. But did you know that there is another color of garnet that is equally as stunning and beautiful? It’s true. The Sessartime garnet was discovered in Mosambique and at one time was mined in a German forest called Spessart. For garnet lovers, knowing all about Spessartite garnets will help them get them most out of January’s birthstone.

Of course, the key to finding the right one lies in knowing what to look for. Spessartite garnets have a yellowish orange color, which in many ways resembles a typical, everyday garnet. They can come in a rich, brilliant red, and in some cases, green. What color a Spessartite Garnet will be depends on how much Spessartite the stone contains. Garnets with high amounts of Spessartite tend to be the most brilliant. These have a rich golden color, which looks similar to that of a citrine.

Garnets with lower concentrations of Spessartite can range from reddish orange to deep brownish red. Spessartite Garnets are generally translucent and have better clarity than most others. Garnets are ranked highly on the Mohs hardness scale, ranking a 7.5. Because of this, Spessartite stones can withstand the wear and tear of daily life. Garnet stones never falter in their beauty.

In fact, knowing all about Spessartite garnets will help you find the most beautiful Garnet for your money. According to experts, Mandarin Spessartite is quite possibly the most beautiful of the Spessartite family. Spessartite garnets are very clear, but Madarin Spessartite can have small inclusions, thus making it rarer and more costly. Green garnets are also a part of the Mandarin Spessartite family.

Mandarin or reddish orange garnets, though highly prized, are not the most unusual. The Nambian garnet is often carved into a cushion cut. Namibian Spessartites also contain inclusions.

If you find yourself browsing jewelery cabinets in the stores, you will find that Spessartite garnets are cut into a limited number of shapes. Cushion, trillion and oval cuts are some of the most popular. Before you buy a Spessartite garnet, be sure to hold it under different kinds of lighting. The colors of stones sometimes look different in indoor light than they do when they are in outside light. If the garnet is really translucent, light will clearly shine through it, catching all the stone’s facets.

Of course, finding the right one for your style will take time and above all, study. There are many variations of Spessartite garnets on the market. Knowing all about Spessartite garnets will help you find a good one. Bear in mind that high quality Spessartite garnets can go for as much as $12,000.00.

Knowing all about Spessartite garnets will help you in your quest to find the perfect gem. Browsing the internet will help you find a wealth of resources devoted to spessartite garnets. And the good news is that it’s all at your fingertips.

Whether you’re shopping for yourself or the special man in your life, choosing a man’s garnet ring is a big decision, especially if you’re shopping on a limited budget. Garnet rings for men generally come in simpler designs than those designed for women. Designs for men often contain a center stone or a few smaller stones that surround the center stone. These garnets are often accented by small diamonds or have a two tone metal design.

Often accented by small diamonds, are quite beautiful. They possess a rich, crimson color that accentuates outfits quite well.

Garnet jewelery, as a whole, is not widely advertised as an accessory for men. However, it has become increasingly popular in the design of jewelery for men. We have been taught to believe that all garnets are red, but this is not always the case in fact.

Garnet rings for men come in a variety of metals, many of which conjure up feelings about January’s birthstone. According to ancient mythology, garnets are considered to be a symbol of illumination and healing. Because of this, garnet jewelery has been passed down through the ages as a great and desirable stone.

This is just one reason to exercise care before buying garnet jewelery. Garnets are sometimes placed in men’s wedding bands. Many people have such wedding rings customized to personalize the ring. However, coordination is key. A wedding ring is worn all the time, so it’s Important to choose a diverse garnet ring that will accent any man’s outfit.

Garnet rings also come set in a variety of metals, including white and yellow gold, sterling silver, platinum, and tungsten. Though not as common as silver and gold, garnet rings set in tungsten can be very pricey, often selling for as much as $500.00. Because of this, you may want to choose a man’s garnet ring made out of a conventional, mainstream metal.
Of course, finding a man’s garnet ring that you like can be a challenge, especially if you don’t know where to look. According to experts, not all garnets are an orangey red. The stone can have different variations of red; they may also come in green and black. Rhodolite garnet is usually pinker than a traditionally deep red garnet.

You can find a man’s garnet ring in just about any jewelery store. You may want to visit several jewelers to get a feel for what is out there. Note variations in color, to see what suits your style.

It may also help to have a style in mind. While browsing jewelery stores, make note of what appeals to you. Also be sure to see what designs are popular. It may help to buy a traditional style garnet. That way, it won’t go out of style, and you will be able to wear the ring for a long time.
It is not hard to find a man’s garnet ring, if you know where to look and have a style in mind. By browsing different jewelers, you have a good chance of finding what you want at a fair price.

Giving a garnet silver ring is one of the best ways of showing appreciation for your lover. It can be used as an engagement ring too. An engagement ring is always remembered by everyone - that’s why it makes total sense to use garnet to decorate it. The combination of garnet and silver is a good option as garnet will look lovely along with silver because it offers a great contrast against silver with its vivacious deep color. It has a rare elegance that can be added to your engagement ring so that you can offer something unique to your beloved one.

Remember an engagement is a rare occasion in anyone’s life. That’s the best time to create an impression on anyone. If you had been thinking of buying a diamond ring for your fiancé/fiancée – forget it - it’s so predictable and boring – why not try a garnet silver ring for a change. It will help you to be way different from other people. And if you still want to use a bit of diamond to your ring – you can do this by adding a number of small diamonds to the silver ring – this too is a different kind of ring that can be bought by you.

A garnet silver ring is also perfect for anyone who doesn’t have an unlimited budget while buying a jewelry ring or even gifting it to someone else. Although it is reasonable on the pocket – it will still be able to create an amazing effect on anyone who sees it.

In case you have decided to buy a garnet silver ring – take care of the following things:

Check the ring properly before you buy it. Choose the right color so that you are satisfied with the look of your ring. Also observe the cut of the garnet carefully – if the cut is a neat one, it will add class to your ring. Avoid buying a ring that has flaws in the garnet. You can try buying a garnet ring online if you want to save some cash. Always go to a dealer who will offer you a guarantee on your ring.

After you have bought your garnet ring, take good care of it every day of your life. Try to place it a ring pouch when you are not using it. If you do this, a garnet silver ring will give you total satisfaction for a lifetime.

Garnets are a beautiful gemstone that has been used for years and years. This gemstone has been seen in many things and has been used in jewelry for years. Many people find that antique garnet rings are one treasure that is great to have and so they are an often coveted piece of jewelry.

Perhaps the popularity comes from the fact that garnets are very unique in their coloring. The coloring could be red, orange, green, yellow, and/or blue. The standard gemstones that you find in jewelry stores are a deep red color. The most common color of garnet is red, however orange, green and yellow are not uncommon colors but blue is a rarity.

The name garnet comes from the shape of the stone which is most commonly round like that of grain. These stones are highly refractive and offer a unique brilliance that is truly beautiful. The most common thing that can be compared to the color and shape of these gemstones is ripe pomegranate as they are very similar.

If you want to find your own garnets you still can. There are garnets available in a number of locations including some in the United States, the most common being in New York. You could also look for garnets in Canada, Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, China and Mexico.

Since these stones have been popular for many years it is no wonder that there are a lot of antique garnet rings out there. If you are looking for one you can find it in an antique store, jewelry store, or even online. If you are looking online perhaps the best place to look is Ebay.

There are many different types of garnets and this is what determines the color of the gemstone. These different types include pyrope which is red, almandine which is a deep red or a purple color, spessartine which is red or firey orange, grossularite which is a brownish yellow, uvarovite which is a green color from the amount of chromium that is found in the stone, andradite which can be either vivid green or black, and demantoid which is blue. Pyrope are the most common stones found which is why the color red is associated with this stone. Andradites are considered to be the most precious and therefore these are the ones that cost the most money. Demantoids are the most rare and not seen very often.

If you are in the market for an antique garnet ring than you should consider looking in a number of different places until you can find just what you are looking for.

Sterling silver garnet jewelery is perhaps one of the best you can find.
The word Garnet originates from the Latin word, ‘granatus’ which means grain and is a possible reference to the pomegranate fruit since it has seeds similar to some garnet stones.

Most people think garnets are green, in fact they can come in a number of colors including a very striking red. Other colors include purple, orange, yellow green brown and even black. Even colourless crystals of garnet have also been found but these are rare.

In the 1990s a garnet that changes color from blue to red or pink was found in, Madagascar. These are extremely rare of course and the common shades of garnets can be green, beige, gray and rarely blue which then change to a reddish or purplish/pink color in incandescent light. These garnets are actually composed of a mix of spessartine and pyrope, the same as Malaya garnets.

Now Sterling silver is a mix of silver which has 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent other metals, more often than not, copper. The ‘fineness’ is 925.
Sterling silver originated in England in the 13th century. The origins of the terms “Sterling” and Pound Sterling” seem to be lost in time and there are a number of theories as to their origin, but it is certain that the term has now come to mean an agreed upon quality and standard by which other purities of the metal are judged.

Sterling silver objects are usually stamped with either the word “Sterling” or “.925″, or the Lion Passant mark as part of the Hallmark.

Sterling silver goes with just about any color and is ideal, therefore, for displaying garnets, either in a ring, pendant, necklace or even earrings.
When you buy sterling silver garnet jewelery, you should always look for the hallmark that indicates it is sterling silver and also have the garnet verified by a bona fide jeweler who can verify the qualities of the garnet.

Although it is very much a personal choice, it could be said that sterling silver goes very well with garnet jewelery, particularly in a ring or pendant, and if you have a large garnet to be mounted, a ring with sterling silver will certainly present it in the best possible way.
Sterling silver garnet jewelery is indeed one of the finest you can buy.

Garnets have been a very popular gemstone over the years and come in many very beautiful colors.

You do not need to know all about garnets in order seek out and buy a good quality gemstone but the more you do know, obviously the better your choice will be and the better price you are likely to get for the garnet you want to buy.

The word Garnet originates from the Latin ‘granatus’ which means ‘grain’. It has been speculated that this is a reference to the pomegranate fruit which has seeds of a similar shape size and color to some garnet stones.

Despite many people thing\king of garnets as purely green, in fact garnets are invariably red in color but can also be found in a number of other colors including purple, orange, yellow green brown and even black. Even colorless crystals of garnet have been known to be found.

The Garnet is the birthstone for January, and has been in use since the Bronze Age

When shopping for garnets do some patient browsing first. Really check over all the garnets available,. Inspecting them and asking to see the certificate of appraisal that comes or should come with them.

You want to be sure that the garnets are a) genuine and b) that the garnets are what the dealer or jeweler says they are.

If buying online ensure that the seller has a returns policy and that you can contact them easily through the phone or snail mail (letter) and not just some obscure email address.

Buying garnets is easy and all you really need is some common sense, some patience and to do some due diligence and you will likely find the garnet you have been looking for at a price you can afford.

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.

Italian garnet jewelery is a specific characteristic style of jewelery that is quite delightful but may not appeal to all tastes.

Garnets are usually red but actually are found in a variety of colors including black, brown, green, orange, purple and yellow among others.

The pure garnet crystals are used in jewelery as gemstones but garnet is also used in industry. Garnet is used to cut steel for instance and garnet sand is an excellent abrasive so used in sand blasting.

When choosing Italian garnet jewelery it is a good idea to check, not just the garnets for quality but also the type of precious metal the stones are set in. Gold is fairly traditional and 18 and 22 karat gold is an excellent choice as it has a small mixture of other metals to improve its hardness, gold being a soft metal. Italian garnet jewelery tends to be somewhat fragile and some support helps it to last longer without any distortion.

When browsing for Italian garnet jewelery look at the settings also. Ensure the garnet is tight and not lose in its setting. Is the setting a claw setting? Or is the garnet simply glued in. If it is glued in I would avoid it as the glue can deteriorate and the stone can come out and be lost. A claw setting will hold it in place.

If possible try to get a certificate of authenticity that describes the stone and the value and even the setting and metal it is set in. this is good not just for insurance purposes but also for possible resale at a later date.

Italian Garnet Jewelery should be cleaned regularly but with care. Being delicate it is easy to twist or distort the jewelery. Warm soapy water and gently brushed with a old soft toothbrush is the most optimum. Then left to dry (not force dried as that can dry out the garnet and cause cracks) and stored safely away from other jewelery.

Provided one takes care and uses some common sense one can have some delightful Italian garnet jewelery that will last a lifetime.

Cleaning your garnet jewelery is a very important activity if you want to ensure it stays in a pristine condition

Garnets are usually set in rings, broaches, pendants and sometimes necklaces and they get subject to dust, grime and the results of oils and perfumes, chemicals, hairsprays and body sweat .

It is important to know how to regularly maintain and keep them clean therefore.

One needs to be careful of using chemicals to clean gemstones. While diamonds are generally unaffected by chemicals, garnets may be, so knowing what one can and cannot use is vital to ensure you keep your garnets in pristine condition and keep them sparkling.

Use a warm soapy solution in a large bowl (not over the sink as you don’t want to slip and lose your precious gemstone down the plug hole) and rub with a old toothbrush to get out any residue between the stone and the jewelery. Brushing underneath as well as the top and in between the crevasses is important. Ensure you brush gently as, although the gemstone may be quite hard, the precious metal it is set in may be soft and the claws that hold the gemstone may be easily snapped off. 24 karat gold is particularly soft so great care should be taken with that metal.

Make sure the piece is rinsed really well so that the is no soap caught between the ruby and the metal.

Pat dry with a soft cloth. And allow to dry completely before storing or wearing again. A hair dryer can also be used with the setting on low so you don’t blow the jewelery piece away off and onto the floor and have to spend hours frantically searching for it.

If your jewelery is pure gold an ammonia solution could be used. It is not advisable with other metals, such as silver or a lower carat gold of 14 or 10 karat, as they also contain other metals which can react with the ammonia and cause it to go black.

The same principles of clean as described above apply. Brushed well to get rid of grime, rinsed really well and completely dried.

Some people let their gems soak in the solution for a half hour or so. To loosen any grime wedged in.

Using the above tips for cleaning your garnet jewelery will help to keep them sparkling clean.