The Maeve Ring | 1.07 CT Oval Tsavorite Garnet + Emerald

Garnets have a hardness ranging from about 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. This variation in hardness depends on the specific type of garnet:

Almandine Garnet Typically around 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale.
Pyrope Garnet Usually falls between 7 to 7.5.
Spessartine Garnet Generally ranges from 7 to 7.5.
Grossular Garnet About 6.5 to 7.5, depending on the variety.
Andradite Garnet Typically ranges from 6.5 to 7.

• The Mohs scale is a measurement system used to assess and compare the hardness of minerals. Developed by Friedrich Mohs in 1812, it assigns a ranking from 1 to 10 to minerals based on their ability to scratch or be scratched by other minerals. This scale provides a simple and practical way to understand the relative hardness of different minerals, with 1 being the softest (e.g., talc) and 10 the hardest (e.g., diamond).

Garnets are a robust and versatile choice for jewelry, offering both beauty and durability. While they may not match the hardness of diamonds, sapphires, or rubies, their hardness still makes them suitable for most types of jewelry. What sets garnets apart is their stunning variety of colors and their ability to maintain resilience with proper care.

Garnets are renowned for their broad color spectrum, which includes vibrant reds, fiery oranges, warm yellows, and rich greens. They can also be found in softer shades like lavender and deeper hues such as dark brown and vivid pink.

Almandine

Known for its deep red to brownish-red colors; the most common type of garnet.

Pyrope

Features rich red to violet-red colors; often used in classic jewelry pieces.

Spessartine

Offers bright orange to reddish-orange shades; valued for its vivid colors.

Grossular

Includes a range of colors from green (tsavorite) to orange (hessonite); known for its variety.

Andradite

Ranges from yellow-green to dark green, including the rare and highly valued demantoid.

Uvarovite

A striking, deep green variety; less common and highly prized for its vivid color.

Origin

Garnets are found in a variety of locations around the world. Major sources include:
Africa

Notable deposits in Kenya, Tanzania, and Madagascar, particularly for tsavorite and spessartine.

India

Known for its traditional almandine and hessonite garnets.

Sri Lanka

Produces high-quality garnets, including hessonite and pyrope.

Brazil

Provides a range of garnet types, including spessartine and almandine.

Russia

Notable for its rare demantoid garnets, especially from the Urals.

Stability

Garnets are generally stable and durable gemstones, but can be sensitive to extreme temperature changes and strong acids, so they should be handled with care to maintain their luster.

Treatments

Heat Treatment

Some garnets are heat-treated to enhance their color. This is a common practice that improves the appearance of the gemstone without significantly altering its value.

Radiation

Occasionally used to improve color, particularly for green garnets, but this treatment is less common.

We only work with untreated garnets.