YOUR SOURCE FOR COLOR

Garnet is not a single mineral but a group of closely related silicate minerals that share a common crystal structure yet differ in chemical composition; the general formula can be expressed as X₃Y₂(SiO₄)₃, where different elements like magnesium, iron, manganese, calcium, and aluminum occupy the X and Y positions in the crystal lattice. This variation leads to several species, including pyrope, almandine, spessartine, grossular, andradite, and uvarovite, each with its own characteristic range of colors and physical properties. While red garnets (often pyrope and almandine) are the most familiar to many, garnets can appear in virtually all colors of the visible spectrum except true blue; for example, spessartine yields vibrant orange to reddish-orange hues, and green garnets like tsavorite (a variety of grossular) and demantoid (a variety of andradite) are rarer and highly prized.

From a materials-science perspective, garnets crystallize in the isometric (cubic) crystal system, typically forming well-shaped dodecahedral crystals with vitreous luster and no true cleavage, meaning they tend to fracture rather than split along smooth planes when struck. Their hardness ranges roughly from 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, making them durable for many types of jewelry. When evaluating garnets as gemstones, color intensity and hue often take precedence in determining desirability, with clarity and cut also affecting overall appearance; certain inclusions, especially in rare types like demantoid, can even enhance value by creating unique optical effects.