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Most consumers, are familiar with the common reddish garnet, known as pryrope garnet, however, within the "garnet group", there are varying types and colors of garnets.

Red garnets are the most popular, however, they also are available in many different shades ranging from yellow to orange (aka as Mandarine garnets).

Some of the more popular garnets are; almandine garnets which have a red/violet tint, spessartite garnets range from orange-pink, orange-red to brownish-yellow. Green and varying shades of yellow garnets, they are known as grossular garnets.

The most valuable of garnets are known as demantoid garnets since they have a luster similar to diamonds and at times can be confused with gossular garnets, but also with peridot, emeralds, tourmalines and spinel. They range in color from pale, clear to very dark green.Garnet deposits are located in Sri Lanka, Canada, South Africa, U.S.A, Germany, Urals and Brazil.On the Moh's scale of hardness they range from 7 - 7.5 and are excellent for everyday wear. Garnets have been around for thousands of years and worn by the early Egyptians, Greeks and Romans.

Garnet is the birthstone for January.

As an amulet, garnet was favoured by travellers, for it was said to protect and preserve health and honour, cure the wearer of all diseases, and guard them from all perils during the course of a journey.