Garnet is a stone as ancient as it is covered in legends. There were legends about the magical properties of pomegranate in all the places where this stone was found. Its habitat is very wide: there are deposits in Asia, Europe, Africa and even America. Due to the fact that certain types of garnet come to the surface in the form of placers, many ancient peoples had the opportunity to become acquainted with them.
History and origin
It is impossible to tell the full story of the pomegranate briefly, it is too voluminous. A description of the stone is found in the records of medieval scribes from Europe, Persia and Arabia. It is found in gold jewelry of ancient Scythia; the inhabitants of ancient Rome were familiar with it, who gave the stone the name “carbuncle” and their neighbors, the Hellenes, who called it “anfrax”.
Garnet stone
The ancient Greeks most often worked with the dark variety of garnet. The name "anfrax" means "coal". At the same time, the ancients often called all minerals of red color, corresponding structure and transparency, garnet.
Noble spinel, some varieties of hyacinth and other scarlet or crimson crystals were confused with garnet (or, more precisely, they were not distinguished from it).
True, garnet has always been contrasted with ruby, which is harder and has a different, more perfect play of color. It began to be considered a true precious stone only in the 17th century; before that it had rather a utilitarian meaning. Ancient people valued the medicinal properties of the gem more, in particular the ability attributed to it to stop bleeding.
In Europe and the Middle East, mainly the red variety of stone was mined, two subspecies of which were later called pyrope and almandine. The mineral received its modern name thanks to the “Phoenician apple” - the pomegranate fruit tree, for the characteristic garnet color of its crystals. The word “granatus” itself means “grain-like” - referring to the dark red translucent grains of this plant. Only at the beginning of the Renaissance did scientists discover that garnets can be pink, purple, yellowish, colorless, and even black or green; the latter are sometimes confused with chrysolite.
In medieval Rus', this stone was called “bechet” or “venisa”, sometimes “worm” or “wormy yacht”.
Legends and tales
He decorated rings for beauties. Warriors often had it on their armor. On Monomakh's hat, in addition to the fur, the Big Garnet shone solemnly! Demeeva Svetlana
The stone has always accompanied man, and people have always treated the mineral with admiration. The cultures of Greece, Ancient Egypt, and the Roman Empire left their heirs with references to this delightful gem. Even then it was considered the stone of commanders and princes.
Bestowing power and courage, the pomegranate was an invariable attribute for warriors. They decorated their armor with talismans to protect themselves from illness and wounds.
The knights of the Middle Ages were convinced that the garnet stone neutralizes water and neutralizes poisons. The beloved, tremblingly awaiting her chosen one in the castle, hoped for his victorious return, because with a garnet amulet the knight is not afraid of the sword and arrows of the enemy, and love in separation is tempered like the frozen fire of a fiery heart.
Physicochemical characteristics
From the point of view of physicists, chemists and geologists, all minerals of the garnet family have a complex molecular structure. The basis is silicon oxide in combination with various metals - mainly iron, manganese, magnesium, and less often aluminum and chromium. A separate group of garnets contains calcium and metal compounds.
The color of the crystal depends on the metal impurities. Iron gives a red color, manganese gives a yellowish color, aluminum lightens the color, and an admixture of titanium makes it black. Calcium garnets are mostly yellow or green.
Differences in the chemical composition have little effect on the properties of pomegranate; they are approximately similar in all types. This stone has a hardness of up to 7.5 Mohs, a vitreous luster and a medium density.
Garnet stones
| Formula | X3Y2Z3φ12, where X are elements in the dodecahedral position; Y – elements in octahedral position; Z – elements in tetrahedral position; φ – O, OH or F |
| Color | Very rarely colorless; mostly painted in different colors, with the exception of blue |
| Shine | Glass, greasy, resin, diamond |
| Transparency | Transparent, translucent, see-through |
| Hardness | 6 6,5 7 7,5 |
| Cleavage | Not visible |
| Kink | Conchoidal, uneven |
| Density | 3,4 — 4,3 |
Curious facts
- In nature, there is a variety of pomegranate called “ant”. Bright red crystals of a certain chemical composition and physical quality can only be found on the surface of termite mounds located on the border of four American states after heavy rainfalls.
- Tiny natural garnets are located in a mechanical watch. They secure parts subject to friction - rods. The more natural stones are used in a watch movement, the longer the mechanism will last.
- Goethe, having fallen in love at the age of 70 with the eighteen-year-old aristocrat Ulrike von Levetzow, ordered jewelers and then presented his passion with a garnet set consisting of 460 pure garnets of perfect quality and beauty.
Mining locations
The places where garnet is mined have different geological characteristics. Some subspecies of this mineral, for example pyrope, are mined along with diamonds, in diamondiferous rocks (kimberlite pipes). Such deposits are located in South Africa and Russian Yakutia. The most common subspecies, almandine, is found throughout the world in shale and gneiss rocks, both in the thickness of mountain ranges and in placers. Calcium garnets, such as grossular, are often found in limestone rocks.
In Russia, the largest concentrations of garnets are located on the Karelian Isthmus and on the Kola Peninsula, mainly almandines. In the Urals, a rare and beautiful uvarovite garnet is mined.
The largest garnet deposits in the world, besides our country, are located in the USA and Canada. They are found in Brazil, Madagascar, Finland, Azerbaijan and some European countries. But the gem mined there is distinguished by its unique color.
Garnet stone - a little history
The first mention of it is found in the Bible, where it appears under the name anfrax ("coal"), which was given to it by the Hellenes, and in Ancient Rome it was known as the carbuncle stone. In Rus', the mineral was known as venissa or bekhet and was used for medicinal purposes, for example, to stop bleeding and heal wounds.
The ancient Persians considered garnet a stone of strength, and medieval crusaders considered it a symbol of courage and bravery. Christians used pyrope to decorate church instruments, icons, and book bindings.
How did the name pomegranate come about?
The alchemist Magnus, who compared the dark red crystals to the seeds of the fruit of the same name, translating granatus from Latin as “grain-like,” gave the stone its current name. In the 17th century, after the discovery of large deposits in Bohemia, it began to be considered a semi-precious stone.
It was Czech jewelers who truly appreciated the beauty of this precious stone, creating beautiful jewelry from it. Which are valued all over the world and are very expensive.
Colors and varieties
Classic garnets have all shades of red; this is their main distinguishing feature. Unlike ruby, the fruits of the “Phoenician apple” are not so transparent; they have a slight moiré haze. Some specimens are purple, some are black, others are distinguished by their play of green tint.
Main varieties of pomegranate:
- Pyrope. One of the few that matters in jewelry. Rich red color, closer to purple.
Pyrope stone - Almandine. The most common of all garnets. Red almandine differs from pyrope in its lighter shade, but the stone can also be purple and almost black.
Almandine stone - Spessartine is brownish, orange, sometimes yellow. Mined in Germany.
Spessartine stone - Grossular. In Latin - "gooseberry". It got its name because of its color similarity to gooseberries; it is the same greenish-brown with hints of yellow. There are grossulars of emerald shades.
Grossular stone - Uvarovite is a Ural garnet of rich emerald color.
The stone will boil down - Hessonite is the color of honey.
Hessonite stone - Andradite is a Brazilian variety of garnet. There are different colors - red, yellow, greenish.
Andradite stone - Melanitis is black.
Melanite stone - Leucogranate is a transparent stone. It is more important for industry than for jewelry.
Leucogranate stone
It is difficult to distinguish a garnet of an “unusual” color from another precious or semi-precious stone. This can only be done in the laboratory.
Artificial pomegranate
Since this stone is important for industry - from the manufacture of abrasives to the creation of laser emitters - they learned to synthesize it back in the first half of the 20th century. Artificial garnet is not a fake in the full sense of the word, since it was not originally intended for use in the jewelry industry.
Moreover, using high-quality synthetic garnets to imitate real ones is pointless: due to the nature of the production process, the price of an artificial garnet that looks similar to a natural one is comparable to the price of a natural one. But thanks to synthesis, it is possible to grow stones of any color and shade, for example, dark blue (such garnets do not occur in nature).
Synthetic stones are usually used for industrial needs. They are added as additives to mortars, used to create various elements in microelectronics, laser systems are constructed based on them, and so on.
How much does a pomegranate cost?
In the 60s of the 20th century, production was opened to develop synthetic varieties of pomegranate. At first, crystals with the required hardness were created, and they planned to be used only for industrial needs.
Later they came to the conclusion that artificial minerals - garnetites - are good for making jewelry. Products, for example, made from yttrium are distinguished by their magnificent shine, and the price for the consumer is much lower than accessories made from natural gems.
It is known that natural stone is easily magnetized, and recognizing its origin is not difficult. Artificial analogues can be larger in size, but natural ones cannot, just as there is no specific price for a mineral from the natural environment.
Red garnets differ in price from their green counterparts. Jewelry lovers are willing to pay a lot of money for demantoid.
Medicinal properties
The healing properties are mainly attributed to the red varieties of this stone - pyrope and almandine, since these are the most ancient known subspecies of garnet.
Less often they talk about grossular.
The importance of garnet in lithotherapy is great, but you need to be aware that in most cases this does not mean any stones, but red ones. And their main property is based on the ancient rules of sympathetic magic. This means that like influences like - red as blood, the garnet has power over blood.
It means that:
- pomegranate can stop wound bleeding;
- it promotes accelerated regeneration;
- it normalizes blood pressure.
In addition, wearing a garnet in gold is beneficial for health as a preventive measure against colds - it prevents many pulmonary diseases. A stone set in silver is suitable for people who have weak immunity and, due to this, an increased risk of contracting a sore throat, pneumonia or other infectious diseases.
Gold ring with garnet
Pomegranate is able to give its owner vigor and vitality to cope with almost any illness or stress.
Some lithotherapists recommend wearing a gold garnet ring on the middle finger of the right hand as a way to relieve pain from frequent migraines.
Talismans and amulets
Since ancient times, people have used amulets made from this gem.
For example, every traveler tried to take a garnet ring or pendant on the road. The pomegranate is considered an amulet that can both preserve and win the love of another person. Scandinavian legend says that the miniature Ogren, having fallen in love with Freya, the goddess of love, forged a beautiful necklace in order to achieve her favor.
Another property attributed to pomegranate is especially important for men. It symbolizes masculinity, fortitude, and courage.
Many warriors wore jewelry made from this mineral, as it was considered a strong amulet that protected against wounds and death in battle. They inlaid weapons, armor, and helmets. And during the Crusades, almost every knight had a ring with a garnet, designed to protect it in battle.
Products made from garnet have very strong energy, because of this you should not wear it continuously, you should remove it from time to time and let it “rest”.
Magic properties
The magical properties of the stone primarily include the ability described above to influence the blood, as well as fill its owner with energy and give strength for new achievements. No wonder rings with garnets were very popular among the crusader knights who fought in difficult and unusual conditions for Europeans.
The ancient magic of the pomegranate patronizes people who are strong, purposeful, but at the same time - the key condition - fighting for a good cause.
A person’s occupation can be anything - warrior, politician, businessman, artist. There are two key conditions: he must have a creative beginning, that is, bring something new into his activities, constantly improve and move forward, and he must not have evil, dark thoughts. Garnet is a stone of fair combat, frontal attack. He can destroy a swindler and an intriguer, lead him into a cycle of intrigues he has woven and confuse him. Often the gem brings such people to a severe mental disorder, which in the material sphere goes hand in hand with bankruptcy and ruin.
Red pomegranate helps those people who want to develop themselves and develop their business.
It is very important for the owner of this stone to have a clear, formulated goal, otherwise a “confused” stone will push the owner from side to side, in some cases even provoke diseases.
Pomegranate amulets, talismans and amulets are capable of:
- help the owner identify hidden enemies;
- heal wounds;
- protect from water hazards;
- help in love affairs, especially in winning the heart of an unapproachable girl;
- enhance the charisma and charm of the owner.
Please note: Garnet jewelry is dangerous for some people. This stone enhances the primitive nature of a person, awakens the predator, aggressor, and beast in him. In this way, it helps people suffering from a lack of aggression (in some life situations this is a minus), but those who are naturally aggressive, with a strong “beast” inside, are turned into monsters by the pomegranate.
Who is suitable according to their zodiac sign?
Garnet is a fairly friendly stone. He is able to get along well with many zodiac signs. But experts advise not to wear it too often. The mineral has strong energy, and therefore, with prolonged contact with a person’s aura, it begins to act harmfully.
Astrologers do not advise using pomegranate as a talisman for Cancers and Pisces.
Garnet is suitable according to the horoscope:
- Scorpio . You should not expect that jewelry with this gem will be able to calm the stormy temperament of Scorpio, but the stone will easily direct the energy of the sign in the right direction.
- Aquarius . Like Scorpio, pomegranate will help Aquarius to concentrate on one task. Jewelry with this gem will lead its owner to his life’s work.
- Sagittarius . It protects Sagittarius from rash actions, makes him more emotional and sensitive towards others.
- Leos . For them, jewelry with this mineral will be a useful gift. Leos are born businessmen and leaders. Using such a talisman will make them more reasonable towards their subordinates and will help them gain respect.
- Aries . For representatives of this zodiac sign, garnet will help them make rational decisions and put their thoughts in order.
- Gemini . The gem will guide the uncertain nature of the twins towards stability, and will also bring them luck in creative experiments.
- Libra . The mineral gives strength to timid and shy Libras, adds confidence and determination.
- Virgos . But for Virgos, he plays the role of a pimp. Helps to reveal feelings to the chosen one and brings harmony to the relationship.
- Capricorns . Despite the fact that the gem is suitable for many signs, it forms the best alliance with Capricorn. The amulet adds energy to Capricorn, promotes career advancement and attracts profitable acquaintances.
- Taurus . It is believed that such a talisman can only be used by Taurus men to replenish vitality and inspiration.
But the gem's friendliness does not apply to everyone. This stone is not suitable for Cancers . For these dreamers and recluses, pomegranate will force them to constantly move, try something new, and this will bring them discomfort or may even cause them to fall into depression.
A pomegranate can become a good amulet, a faithful talisman that will lead its owner to wealth and happiness.
The main thing is to know how to use it and remember to remove the jewelry regularly. Did you like this stone? You may also be interested in cacholong, yakhont and corundum. Enjoy reading!
Zodiac compatibility
Astrologers believe that according to the horoscope, garnet corresponds to the fire element, although in this case it means only the red variety of the stone. The garnet stone in different forms refers to different zodiac signs.
Red stones - pyrope and almandine - are suitable for Leo, Capricorn, Sagittarius, and to a lesser extent - Virgo. At the same time, he lacks compatibility with water signs, especially Pisces and Cancer. Taurus also does not like this mineral.
Grossular by zodiac sign is suitable for everyone. This is one of the most peaceful stones, but its strength is less than that of its scarlet counterparts.
| Zodiac sign | Compatibility |
| Aries | + |
| Taurus | — |
| Twins | + |
| Cancer | + |
| a lion | + |
| Virgo | + |
| Scales | + |
| Scorpion | +++ |
| Sagittarius | + |
| Capricorn | +++ |
| Aquarius | + |
| Fish | + |
(“+++” – fits perfectly, “+” – can be worn, “-” – is strictly contraindicated)
Particular impact on women
Garnet for Scorpio , as stated in the book “Talismans and Fates,” is a talisman stone for pregnant women, gives them strength and promotes a favorable birth.
The garnet stone for the Sagittarius serves as a talisman against adversity: accidents, natural disasters, the evil eye, and even protects against love spells. The talisman promotes career growth, improves relationships in the team, and helps win the favor of management. This will bring recognition and power.
Garnet for Libra is a stone of love and strength of marital ties. If you give your beloved a red crystal, then even after breaking up you will meet again.
For a woman born under the sign of Aries , a garnet stone will speed up a meeting with the right man or strengthen marriage relationships. With this mineral it will be easier to be in harmony with yourself.
Garnet is also a talisman stone for Capricorns, which serves as an assistant in love relationships, maintains family harmony and attracts the attention of men.
Compatibility with other stones
In this matter, everything is not easy for pomegranate. The fact is that different types of this stone belong to different elements. Pyrope, almandine, grossular are Fire stones. But, for example, uvarovite is the stone of Air. Fire and Air are friendly elements, but Fire, unlike Air, does not combine with Earth.
So, you can choose stones that suit each other according to this scheme. All grenades combine with:
- diamond and diamond;
- ruby;
- coral;
- pyrite;
- heliolite;
- rock crystal;
- topaz;
- amethyst;
- carnelian;
- golden beryl.
Garnet beads
You should not wear them with Water stones - a mutual contradiction will arise (not so strong in the case of uvarovite).
In jewelry, first of all, avoid combinations of garnet:
- with emerald;
- opal;
- aquamarine;
- moonstone;
- alexandrite;
- pearls;
- tourmaline;
- zircon.
In addition to uvarovite, it should also be used with caution. These include:
- jasper;
- chalcedony;
- agate;
- onyx;
- malachite;
- turquoise;
- obsidian;
- morion.
As well as other opaque minerals.
What does pomegranate go with?
Bright crystals attract attention and complement the image, but if chosen incorrectly, they will stand out from the overall ensemble. There are 4 unspoken rules that allow you to choose a garnet to match your clothes and other jewelry:
- White, black and transparent inserts are considered universal in color. However, the stones influence each other and together - the owner. It is undesirable, for example, to wear garnet to impart wisdom along with onyx and malachite. These minerals do not combine.
- You should not wear jewelry with a gem in gold and silver at the same time.
- When selecting crystals for eye color, the type according to the seasons is taken into account.
- Inserts in jewelry sets (sets) must match in shade. Color contrast with beads is allowed.
Garnet is not a very expensive piece of jewelry, but it looks elegant and sophisticated in both men's and women's jewelry. The variety of types allows you to choose “your” stone not only according to its magical properties, but also to suit your type of appearance or wardrobe.
Application in products
Currently, the market is saturated with products containing garnet, mostly almandine. Such jewelry is worn mainly by women.
For men who want to look impressive, for example, gold or silver cufflinks with dark pyrope are made.
Excluding industrial applications, it is used as inserts in rings, earrings and pendants. Cut - cabochon or diamond. Sometimes the processing is reduced to a minimum: for example, heavy beads made from uncut, but only polished, red garnet look beautiful.
Pomegranate cufflinks
In addition, this stone was often used for precious inlays in luxury items.
How to spot a fake
The cost of a pomegranate is not very high, but it is counterfeited.
It is quite difficult to distinguish natural stone from synthetic stone.
Their hardness, density and shine are the same; moreover, synthetics can be harder. To determine the authenticity of a stone, use one of the following rules:
- rub a piece of stone on wool - a natural mineral, like an ebonite stick, becomes electrified, a synthetic one does not;
- natural stone has a heterogeneous color, and artificial stone has a bright color;
- Specimens larger than a coffee bean should be considered suspicious - such stones are rare in nature.
Natural stone differs from painted glass in hardness - it is much harder.
Who is the stone contraindicated for?
In some cases, wearing a red garnet is strictly contraindicated. The stone is not recommended for the following people:
- Apathetic and lazy. If you lead a fairly passive lifestyle, the energy generated by the stone will not be consumed. It will accumulate and then can be turned against you. This can be expressed in poor health, bad mood and even failures in life.
- Physically weak people. If you often feel unwell and quickly become exhausted, then red pomegranate is not for you. His powerful energy will suppress your own even more.
- People in a bad mood and with bad intentions. Garnet is a positively charged stone. Anger and despondency are alien to the mineral, and therefore it can enter into confrontation with its owner.
How to wear and care
Rings with garnet are worn on the middle finger - if the frame is made of silver, then on the left hand, if made of gold, then on the right hand. There are no specific requirements for wearing beads, pendants or earrings, with the exception of combinations with other stones.
Gold ring with garnet
A dirty product should be washed with a weak soap or saline solution. You can add a couple of drops of ammonia. Wipe with a cloth, do not use hard sponges or abrasives. Store in a separate bag.
Care
Garnets are capricious minerals. They need to be stored in a dark, fairly cool (but not cold!) place. Each stone must be placed separately or wrapped in a piece of cloth. Separate boxes are required for jewelry made from these gems.
You can clean a garnet jewel with a soft brush. To do this, you need to fill the stones with water for a while, and then carefully wash them with soapy water.
