How to distinguish natural pomegranate from artificial one?

What does a gem look like?

To analyze samples, you should know what the standard is, that is, natural garnet.

The gem looks like the fruit of a southern fruit. Dark purple, that is, a shade of garnet, is considered classic. There are other colors, not just blue. They are created by impurities of manganese, calcium, chromium, iron, and magnesium.

Pomegranate substitutes

Most often, glass or plastic is offered instead of mineral. A technology has been developed for producing a special type of garnet glass with a color that imitates natural glass. Due to the low cost of garnet, stones to imitate it are rarely used.

It is more difficult to distinguish garnets from fakes if they are artificially grown stones such as cubic zirconia. Jewelry with several stones (bracelet or beads) requires attention. In them, a real garnet can coexist with fakes.

Magic properties

The book by A. Gurinovich says the following about the magical properties of garnet: the gem symbolizes power, gives favor to people, fame and honor.
The stone helps to earn money and win, relieves anxiety and depression. Peruvian pomegranate strengthens character, willpower, bestows intuition and ingenuity, awakens interest in intellectual work, helps to gain knowledge and become wiser.

Garnet stone is a talisman when traveling by water and land. The mineral protects the owner from poison, from assassination attempts and helps solve crimes.

The book “Lithotherapy” (Moscow, publishing house “Pedagogy-Press”, 1994) says that garnet is a stone of love, anger, flame and passion, and that the magic of this gem is associated with the Sahasrara and Svadhisthana chakras. The rest repeats what has already been said here.

Who suits pomegranate according to their zodiac sign?

In accordance with the book “Talismans and Fates” (Moscow, Aquarium publishing house, 1997), pomegranate is suitable according to the horoscope for those born in January, be it Capricorn of the 2nd and 3rd decades, or Aquarius of the first (p. 93).
The author claims that the magical property of the garnet stone is to cheer the heart (p. 103). The best talisman is a bracelet or ring with a garnet in the shape of a snake. The book “Lithotherapy” on pages 31-34 contains tables of correspondence between stones and zodiac signs from various authoritative sources. Judging by them, this is who the pomegranate is suitable for.

According to David Conway - born in January.

According to the “Svyatoslav's Collection”, the garnet stone is also intended for those born in January and means constancy and fidelity.

Garnet for Capricorn plays a role in accordance with the Hebrew and Arabic lists, in which the gem corresponds to dates of birth from December 22 to January 20.

Whose stone is garnet according to the horoscope - answered astrologer Hurliman in his astrological cataloging of minerals. Red or colorless garnet for Aries Aries III decade (April 12-20) is the most suitable talisman stone. Orange or white suits Leos of the 2nd decade (August 13-23). Violet-blue or red garnet is compatible with Sagittarius in the first decade (November 22 to December 1).

Garnet stone is suitable for the zodiac sign Aries, according to the American writer and magician Scott Cunningham.

The Italian and Russian lists, the list of the National Association of Jewelers of Great Britain (NAG) and the list of stones of the Council of Jewelers of Industrialists of the USA also include January.

For whom is pomegranate contraindicated?

Red garnet is a stone of the fire element, and it is known to be incompatible with the water element, so it is not recommended to wear jewelry with red garnet to water representatives of the zodiac circle - Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. But there are no strict rules about the benefits and harms; on the contrary, the gem may suit these people according to other criteria. For example, for Pisces born on February 21, the mineral is assigned according to the day. The stone is also suitable for Pisces in the year of the Goat. For the remaining two signs, look for exceptions on the corresponding pages.

If you purchased a garnet from another person, the stone will take time to get used to you. Treat him kindly and mastery will take place in a few days.

In general, books rarely contain information about the incompatibility of a gem with people or other minerals, but here is what can be said for sure about contraindications: you should not wear a crystal that has cracked during wear, because he "took the blow."

Also, do not wear stones obtained dishonestly, but even if the previous owner or seller simply parted with the product unwillingly, involuntarily, for example, selling it for next to nothing out of great need, regretting it, it will not bring much benefit. But such cases are rare. Try in general to avoid images that give a negative response in your soul, such as a skull like this.

Particular impact on women

For Scorpio women, garnet, as stated in “Talismans and Fates,” is a talisman stone for pregnant women, it gives them strength and promotes a favorable birth.
For a Sagittarius woman, the garnet stone serves as a talisman against adversity: accidents, natural disasters, the evil eye, and even protects against witchcraft. The gem promotes career growth, improves relationships in the team, and helps win the favor of management. Gains recognition and power.

Garnet for Libra women is a stone of love and strength of marriage bonds. If you give your chosen one a red crystal, even after breaking up you will meet again.

For an Aries woman, a garnet stone will speed up a meeting with a suitable man or strengthen marriage relationships. With this mineral it is easier for you to be in harmony with yourself.

Garnet is also a stone for Capricorn women, serving as an assistant in love relationships, maintaining family harmony and attracting the attention of men.

Healing properties

Garnet stone has been used by doctors and healers since time immemorial. According to the book "Jewelry Stones" they were used to treat fever and jaundice. The book “Lithotherapy” adds that the mineral promotes blood circulation and stimulates the activity of the pituitary gland. Protects the military from injury.

Pomegranate is good for overall health, and is especially famous for strengthening the heart. Helps pregnant women. Relieves stress if applied to the pit of the stomach.

In ancient times, it was believed that the garnet stone was a talisman against plague, epidemics, and consumption. That is, in modern times, these properties can be interpreted as protection against infectious diseases, especially pulmonary ones.

Compatibility by name

People with these names are slightly more compatible with pomegranate.

Women's:

Alexandra, Alina, Alla, Angela, Valeria, Victoria, Galina, Daria, Ekaterina, Elizaveta, Zinaida, Camilla, Lyudmila, Maria, Oksana, Sofia, Tamara, Tatyana, Yulia, Yana

Men's:

Alexander, Andrey, Anton, Arkady, Boris, Vasily, Valery, Vladimir, Victor, Kirill, Konstantin, Maxim, Nikolay, Oleg, Pavel, Svyatoslav, Semyon, Stanislav, Philip, Eduard, Yuri

Compatibility with other stones

Red pyralspite stones do not harmonize with amber and carnelian, orange garnet does not get along well with turquoise.
In general, it is not recommended to wear jewelry with red garnet at the same time as gems of the water element. This is, for example, aquamarine. A successful combination is with diamond, amethyst, beryl, rock crystal, coral, pyrite, ruby, carnelian and topaz.

Garnet stone should not be worn together with alexandrite, pearl, emerald, moonstone, opal, tourmaline and zircon.

How to recognize a fake

The color scheme of the stone creates scope for those who love counterfeiting. There are simple ways to determine the origin of a stone at home.

Visual analysis

The size, color, and transparency of the sample are assessed. Examine a pebble in the light. A magnifying glass will come in handy.

• Size. A nugget pomegranate has the dimensions of a grain of the fruit of the same name. After processing they are even smaller. If the crystals are larger, it is a fake. Especially green stones. They are rare and prohibitively expensive. Bypassing the counters, they end up in private, corporate or state treasuries.
• Coloring. The garnet is fragmentary. Even elite jewelry samples have gradations and zoning of color and different densities. It is possible for one stone to have shades. Fake specimens are painted evenly.
• Inclusions. Pure specimens are rare, expensive, and inaccessible. Unlike an artificial one, a real gem has small inclusions. But not gas bubbles - they only exist in glass.
• Shine. Even when cut, the natural gem has a muted, matte, velvety shine. Synthetic is dazzling.
• Play of light. Garnet transmits light unevenly, refracting at the edges. Visually it looks like an internal play of light. This is not possible for counterfeiting.

It is unreasonable to shell out a lot of money for a large shiny pebble without “foreign objects” or with bubbles inside.

Mechanical impact

Determination methods are based on the physical properties of the mineral.

• Scratching. The hardness of garnet is high. It easily scratches glass or plastic. If there is no trace left or the sample being tested is damaged as a result of scratching, it is not a garnet, but plastic or a cheap gem.
• Heating. Garnet is, although precious, a stone. Glass or plastic heats up in your hands faster than it does. If the sample remains cool after a few minutes, it is a mineral. It's easy to feel the difference by holding the sample and the glass at the same time.
• Magnetism. Garnet has the property of being magnetized. The experiment is carried out on highly sensitive (electronic or carat) scales. For the purity of the experiment, their steel surface is insulated. That is, cork, plastic or other insulating material is placed on the scales, and the sample being tested is placed on them. The readings are recorded when the pomegranate is at rest. Then they pass a magnet over it (about 1 cm) and look at the numbers. If the weight has decreased, it is a garnet - the pebble seems to be pulled by a magnet.
• Electrification. When rubbed, the stone becomes electrified. If you rub a pomegranate on wool, it will attract pieces of paper, hair, straws, and fluff.

The latter experience will help distinguish a natural mineral from a man-made one, but not from glass. It is also electrified.

Artificial pomegranate

Laboratory-grown stones are larger, purer than natural ones, and evenly colored. Hard, cut well. Treated crystals play in the light. Recognized by the following characteristics:

• arcs, rings or straight segments (crystal growth lines);
• are not magnetized;
• are not electrified.

Jewelry stones have been grown around the world since the late 1960s. The technology is complex, so prices are comparable to its natural counterpart. Since 1973, in the USSR, jewelry was supplied with artificial garnets in pink, pale purple, yellow shades, colorless and cubic zirconia, and two years later - with emeralds. So inherited Soviet-era jewelry does not always contain natural stones.

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.

(“+++” – fits perfectly, “+” – can be worn, “-” – is strictly contraindicated)

Garnet and ruby

An inexpensive gem is used as an imitation of first-row stones. Ruby “suffers” the most.

It is not difficult to distinguish a semi-precious stone from a ruby. The ruby ​​is not magnetized and shines like a diamond in daylight. The shine of garnet is soft and velvety. It's more of a flicker.

It is better to buy expensive jewelry in trusted stores with quality certificates. The origin of a pebble received as an inheritance, given as a gift, or found is checked. The described methods allow you to do this at home. If you have any doubts about the “pedigree” of a gem, it’s worth investing in a professional examination.

Place of Birth

In the jewelry business, the highest demand is for jewelry of medium cost, so common garnet mining sites are geared toward obtaining inexpensive stones. Their territory extends over long distances - Karelia, Alaska, Brazil and Madagascar. More expensive and high-quality gems are mined in Chukotka; these deposits are well known.

The rarest specimens of garnet are mined in Madagascar and Tanzania. Blue garnets are considered unique because they can change color depending on the lighting.

Price

The price of garnet depends on certain factors - the size of the stone, variety and cut. The price of the most common gemstone, pyrope, varies from 500 to 2000 rubles per carat. The better the cut, the higher the cost. Almadine is a variety with a blue sheen and has a price of 1,900 rubles per carat and above. The figures for rhodolite are approximately the same; the numbers may vary depending on the type of decoration.

Spessartines, which are considered very rare in Russia, are much more expensive. The price for a finished product weighing 3-4 carats can reach 35-40 thousand rubles. Orange crystals are most valued, while brown ones are considered simpler.

Jewelry with stone

A piece of pomegranate not inserted into the frame is suitable as a talisman. It can be beautifully polished and hidden in a pocket - this option is suitable for men who do not want to wear jewelry. Real garnet looks luxurious in large specimens, highlighting its soft radiance and gradient of shades.

A garnet necklace will add nobility to your figure and will be a wonderful addition to an evening outfit. A large pendant in a gold frame also looks amazing and is more suitable for mature women. Inlaid with silver, surrounded by shining cubic zirconia, the gem will perfectly complement the image of a young girl.

Rings with garnet are a rare thing; they are a complete decoration; they should not be worn with other rings. Small garnets are often set in silver; this solution looks good on a narrow hand.

Earrings with noble crystal come in a variety of shapes, from studs to dangles. The former will decorate a casual look, the latter – an evening look, favorably highlighting a formal outfit.