Garnet may appear to be of different colors in incandescent light.Garnet stone, do you too wish to wear them? Then, you must be aware of the very obvious question that most people ask at a jewelry shop, ‘what color is garnet?‘Garnet is often known as the brilliant-hued mineral family. Garnets are a type of crystal or a gemstone that is adorned like jewelry. Garnet gemstones are a group of similar stones from one mineral family. Garnet comes in a spectrum of colors, like red, yellow, orange, purple, pink, green, gray, brown, and black but remember that garnet red is a different color from the normal red color. There’s also a present color change garnet.Garnets, a gem made up of multiple garnet species from the garnet family. Garnet gemstones are completely unique with no varieties matching each other. Garnet is also known as the official January birthstone. One carat of a garnet starts from US $500. Varying on the type of garnets, the price of one carat differs. Good quality garnets lie between US $2000 - US $5000 per carat.After understanding all about different garnet species and color change garnets, do read about what color is bronze and what color is copper.Variants Of GarnetMining plays an important role in this. Garnets are coming from decades, from the times of ancient history, from Egyptian pharaoh’s necklaces to ancient Rome’s carved signet rings, to Victorian era’s pavé jewelry. Now, garnets are no more privileged as it is the official January birthstone, and it adds to your perfect jewelry collection.The types of garnets are as follows.Red garnets: Red garnets are a widely known garnet. There are varieties of rainbow color found in this gem, from green to greenish yellows, reddish-orange, orange to orange pinks, purple, blue, various shades of blue, and more color-changing varieties. The term garnet represents a group of sharply related minerals that includes approximately twenty species of minerals. The top species of gem-quality garnets are almandine, pyrope, spessartite, grossular, rhodolite, andradite, hessonite, tsavorite, and uvarovitee. These species of garnets can be found all over the world.Pyrope garnet is one of the most popular dark red varieties. Pyrope has a rich pomegranate color which attracts many of its admirers. Later a fashion for Bohemian garnet also emerged, having rose-cut garnets placed into tight pavé clusters. It is really rare to find one of these.Red garnet, commonly known as Almandine, comes as another species of dark red garnet. Mostly almandine garnets are opaque and can be found in the range from purplish-red to dark red. Almandine pyrope is more or less similar with very few differences.Demantoid has a high refractive index. Demantoids are mainly found in Russia, Iran, and Italy. Demantoid displays a wispy spray look.Green garnets commonly called Tsavorite garnets belong to the grossularite species. These tsavorite garnets are of rich and vibrant color. It is really rare to find one of these. They are found in Tanzania and Kenya.Mali garnets come in a beautifully unique color, it ranges from a golden to chartreuse yellow, brownish-green, or rarely, a mint or chrome green.Hessonite garnet is one of the unique varieties of grossular garnet, hessonite comes in orange-brown color, rather than the typical green. Their characteristics are inclusions, which seem as curving areas of varying translucency. These garnets are mined in Sri Lanka, it is also found in Brazil, India, Canada, Madagascar, and Tanzania.Spessartine is most commonly mistaken as spessartite is a garnet that comes from orange to orange-red in color. Spessartite garnets have a high refractive index that gives them a luscious fire and brilliance when cut. The garnet can be mostly found in Namibia and Mozambique. It is also found in Myanmar, Brazil, China, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Madagascar, Tanzania, and the U.S.The color of rhodolite ranges from pink to purplish-red in color. It is mined in Tanzania, Mozambique, Brazil, Sri Lanka, and North Carolina in the U.S. Rhodolite is a hybrid of almandine and pyrope garnets. Color change garnets are also becoming increasingly popular, thanks to its exotic appearance.Different Shades Of GarnetDid you know garnet has many beautiful shades? Read on to know more about the different shades of garnet.Dark red or red color can never be seen in uvarovite but turn out in all the others. The green variety of garnet, commonly called uvarovite is very rare to find. Pink comes for three species – andradite, grossular, and pyrope. The orange color comes in grossular and spessartine. Yellow is most likely to turn out in andradite and grossular. Green occurs in andradite, grossular and uvarovite.  Purple occurs especially in pyrope; however, there are some also present in few almandines. Brown color is present in andradite, grossular and spessartine. Black is the color of andradite but few grossulars too have this color. White color is rarely found in some species of pyrope and grossular to be present. So, the grossular is the only one with a total of 15 different colors. Uvarovite has only one shade. Almandine has got three shades, andradite has got eight shades, spessartine has got six shades and pyrope receives four shades of colors.Reasons for the various shades of colors that are available in different kinds of garnets are because of the chemicals present in the garnet. Garnet is not a single mineral but is in fact a group of several closely related minerals. Iron imparts red and yellow-green; titanium imparts orange and black; chromium which is also present imparts purple color. The chemical vanadium gives yellow-green color and because of the manganese present pink and orange color is often imparted to the garnet. When pyrope and grossular are in their pure form, the color imparted to the garnet is generally colorless and white. Colorless garnet is a very peculiar thing but since it is colorless, it is not of much value. There is no chemical present in the garnet like no iron or manganese or chromium or vanadium, which mainly causes the color in garnets.What colors go well with garnet?In connection with the color patterns, garnets are best known for their attractive bright colors. Garnets go well with neutrals which impart a rich feel, like beige or shades of light gray or charcoal. It also goes well with deep brown wood colors for a truly royal look.For example, orange, a combination of red and yellow, goes well with red. Garnets clearly would look amazing with shades of orange and pink, especially with the darker shades of pink.Garnet Color CombinationsThe best garnet color combinations are red and yellow because the garnet color, red and yellow are classically bold colors as a combo. The next is pink and purple colors, they blend beautifully together giving a warm, playful look. Another color combination is yellow and black. Other color combinations are purple and orange, and green and blue color and various other shades of blue.Are Garnet and Ruby the same?Are all red gemstones a ruby? Ruby and garnets may appear to be very similar but actually, they are not.The garnet stones are mostly clear, rubies usually have flaws and or inclusions. Ruby gemstones are able to absorb the yellow and green colors, so when sunlight passes through a garnet you’ll notice a full seven-colored rainbow shining through.Garnet and ruby have got stunning shades of red, with very little difference. The difference lies in the color, hue, and intensity. A ruby stone has got a deeper and more distinct red color than a garnet stone has got, garnets appear a little lighter and paler.Rubies are ranked nine out of 10 on the Mohs scale, which says a lot about the durability of rubies. Rubies are pretty good, durable, and resilient. While on the other hand, garnets are ranked seven or 7.5 out of 10. Garnet is a January birthstone whereas ruby is a July birthstone.Two solid solution series of garnets are made up pyrope, almandine, and spessartine; and uvarovite, grossular, and andradite.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for what color is garnet then why not take a look at what color is aubergine, or what color is espresso.

Garnet may appear to be of different colors in incandescent light.