A beautiful bright stone with a deep and rich burgundy-red color attracted the attention of a person 3 thousand years ago. Today, garnet has not lost its popularity and is still often found in jewelry. If you want to buy jewelry with this stone, it will be useful for you to know whether garnet is a precious or semi-precious stone, and also what are its main properties.
Gem Features
Red-burgundy bright and shiny pebbles reminded people of pomegranate seeds, called in ancient times the Phoenician apple. The name of this mineral also came from the similarity with the fruit - originally in Latin it sounded like “pomegranate”, that is, “like grains”. It is believed to have been introduced by the alchemist Albert Magnus at the end of the 13th century.
Today, this name means a whole group of minerals. In a narrow sense, these are their two varieties - transparent red almandines and dark red pyropes. However, in a broader sense, grenades are consideredand related minerals - pink and scarlet spessartines, purple rhodolites, brown andradites and even green grossulars. Scientists believe that not all of them are of equal value, however, if we talk about red stones used in jewelry, there is no doubt about whether garnet is a precious or semi-precious stone. Undoubtedly, it belongs to the first variety.
Properties
Besides color, garnet species have other differences. So, most of them let in sunlight. But there are those that almost do not shine through, for example, melanitis, which has a dark, almost black color. The brilliance of the pomegranate is always clear, glassy, and in some species even diamond.
Garnet is not a rare stone, it is mined all over the world, but there are not so many really worthwhile samples with a high cost. In Russia, pomegranates are mined in Chukotka and Yakutia. And in the Urals there are deposits of an unusual green garnet, called the Ural.
Pomegranate in history and culture
Grenades have been known to mankind for over 3 thousand years. Ancient people carved images of animals and people on the surface of raw minerals, later - portraits. Surely you have heard the word "carbuncle" at some time. Pliny the Elder called the pomegranate from the Latin “ember” for its similarity to smoldering coal.
Many peoples considered the described stone endowed with powerful power. The crusaders wore a garnet ring,to protect themselves from injury in battle. Among the Persians, he symbolized power, and in the East - perseverance and good he alth. At the same time, medicinal properties began to be attributed to the grenade, for example, its powder was mixed with water and drunk to treat stomach diseases and give vigor.
In Russia, the mineral appeared in the 16th century. “Venisa” and “bechet” - that was the name of the garnet stone at that time. Its price then was not too high and was significantly inferior to ruby or spinel. However, the stone has been used in folk medicine. For example, it was believed that he helps a woman in childbirth.
In subsequent centuries, the pomegranate becomes more and more valuable and, due to its deep red color, acquires a variety of symbols. So, the scientist Boethius de Boot in his writings calls the stone hardened drops of pure water, colored with vapors of scarlet blood.
Pomegranates gained particular popularity in the era of romanticism. Jewelers of that time created truly works of art from these gems, many of which have become museum treasures. For example, a pendant with a pomegranate, presented by the Czech composer Smetana to his wife, which is kept in the Prague Museum named after him. Or the gorgeous set of 6 pieces decorated with garnets that Goethe gave to his young sweetheart Ulrika.
Suitable for
Garnet is considered to be a stone of will, strong character, determination and passion, and it suits people with the same disposition. Therefore, very often this stone is a satellitecreative figures - artists, musicians, poets, artists. He helps them to give themselves to the cause with all the passion and soul. But for inactive and lazy people, it is better not to wear jewelry with a pomegranate, since it is believed that it will only emotionally exhaust such a person and lead him to a nervous breakdown.
Also, this gem is a symbol of passionate and devoted love, and is perfect as a gift for your beloved woman. Garnet ladies add wisdom and tranquility. But a mineral given to a man can awaken serious passions in him and kindle the fire of love, sometimes even against his will. At least, such properties are attributed to this magical stone.
There are certain indications for which zodiac sign the pomegranate suits. First of all, this is Capricorn, which always goes to its goal, and the fiery signs of Leo and Sagittarius. But he does not suit Aries, because he is quick-tempered, but quickly calms down, and a grenade needs a constant heat of passion.
Libra and Aquarius should wear only green garnets, but Pisces and Cancers are advised to refrain from wearing this stone.
Where is pomegranate used
A precious or semi-precious stone is not so important today. All varieties of pomegranate are extremely in demand in the modern world. It is widely used in industry, construction, electronics and other fields. Basically, the industrial use of garnet is possible due to the fact that it breaks into small pieces with sharp cutting edges. This crumb is glued to a linen or paper base.and get strong abrasives. In construction, it is added to cement, and in instrumentation, sapphires and rubies are sometimes replaced with garnet.
Natural samples are often used to make figurines, figurines and, of course, jewelry.
Jewelry
So, we have decided whether a garnet is a precious or semi-precious stone, and found out that most of its types belong to the first variety.
The most popular is a translucent almandine, painted in dark cherry or red-brown color. Jewelry from such a garnet is produced by most popular jewelry brands, such as Sokolov, Sunlight, Adamas. You can buy any product - a ring with a pomegranate, earrings, brooches, pendants, bracelets, necklaces. These gems are framed in gold of all shades and silver. Diamonds, amethysts, chrysolites, as well as marcasite and cubic zirkonia are complemented in such jewelry by garnet stone. The price for them is not very high - the simplest silver ring can cost about 1000 rubles. How much is the stone itself, it is difficult to say for sure. When evaluating it, color, appearance, quality and processing method are taken into account.
