Garnet
Stone

Garnet

Colour
Burgundy Red
Care profile
Moderate
About the stone

Garnet isn’t a single stone, but an entire family of related minerals with slightly different compositions.

They form under heat and pressure in metamorphic rocks, often as crystals with a naturally geometric, almost perfect shape.

It’s so “telling” that geologists use it as an indicator to read the temperature and pressure at which a rock formed.

The name comes from the Latin for pomegranate, after its red seeds.

It enjoyed special renown in the 19th century: Bohemian garnets, a deep red, set densely in “pavé”, conquered Europe and became a symbol of Victorian style.

But its story is much older — the Romans engraved their seals in garnet, and Germanic and Celtic peoples set it in jewelry as early as the 5th–6th centuries.

Although the best-known color is deep red, garnet also appears in orange, green (tsavorite, demantoid), or pink.

The most famous red garnets come from Bohemia (Czechia), but the family is found all over the world.

Associated with energy, passion, and renewal, garnet is the birthstone for January.

With a hardness of 6,5–7,5, it holds up well to everyday wear, requiring only moderate care to avoid scratches.

It cleans easily with a soft cloth. Its rich tone is beautifully showcased in yellow gold and 925 silver.

Garnet care

How to care for it.

Care profile
Moderate
Attention level
Cleaning
  • Warm water with soap or a gentle professional jewelry solution.
  • Avoid ultrasonic cleaners if the stone is not clearly compatible (e.g., some amethysts or topazes may be affected).
  • Avoid steam cleaning unless specifically safe for that stone.
Exposure precautions
  • Remove jewelry before intense physical activities or entering chlorinated pools.
  • Avoid contact with strong chemicals (chlorine, ammonia).
  • Some stones may lose color with prolonged sun exposure; store them properly.
Storage
  • Store in soft pouches or separate compartments to prevent scratches.
  • If the metal oxidizes easily (like some silver alloys), consider anti-tarnish strips.
  • Avoid areas with high humidity (bathrooms, saunas).

Explore other stones.

Aquamarine Green Agate Green Alpanite Amazonite Amethyst Black Spinel Chalcedony Citrine Smoky Quartz Rose Quartz Diamond Lab-Grown Diamond Labradorite Lapis Lazuli Malachite Moldavite Pink Morganite Black Onyx Green Onyx Opal Peridot Pearl Baroque Pearl Pink Keshi Pearl Black Pearls Moonstone Rhodolite Ruby Sapphire White Sapphire Pink Sapphire Green Sapphire Emerald Tiger's Eye Red Agate Tanzanite White Topaz Sky Blue Topaz London Blue Topaz Pink Topaz Turquoise Turquoise Blue Copper Tourmaline Zirconium