How did almandine get its name?

The name is a corruption of alabandicus, which is the name applied by Pliny the Elder to a stone found or worked at Alabanda, a town in Caria in Asia Minor. Almandine is an iron alumina garnet, of deep red color, inclining to purple.

Where is Spessartine found?

Sources include Australia, Myanmar, India, Afghanistan, Israel, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, Mozambique, Tanzania and the United States. Spessartine of an orange-yellow has been called Mandarin garnet and is found in Madagascar.

What is almandine garnet used for?

Almandine Garnet enhances vitality, endurance, strength, and security through its deep vibrational connections to the earth. It is an ideal stone to work with when feeling ungrounded, lacking motivation, or experiencing low energy.

Are pyrope garnets expensive?

A high-quality 1 carat pyrope-almandine garnet can cost around $300. That said, average and lower grade gems of both varieties will cost relatively less.

How much is orange garnet worth?

$1,000 to $2,000 per carat
The saturated pure orange is the rarest and most valuable, with prices ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 per carat depending on size. The bright yellowish-orange is the second most valuable color, with prices in the range of $750 to $1,200 per carat.

Are almandine garnets valuable?

Price. Rhodolite is a valuable type of garnet and the starting price for an heirloom quality 1 carat stone can be approximately $1,000. A high-quality 1 carat pyrope-almandine garnet can cost around $300. That said, average and lower grade gems of both varieties will cost relatively less.

How much is raw almandine garnet worth?

Fine quality stones in larger sizes sell for $300-$400 per carat, with the very rare Pink Malaia Garnets going for $1,000 to $3,000 per carat. Rhodolite garnet is a mixture of almandine and pyrope garnet that is valued for its purplish-red or raspberry color.

What is the difference between garnet and almandine?

Almandine, also called almandite, garnets are often the color of a fine red wine. They are the most common garnet variety; one we typically associate as “garnet color”. Generally the colors will be dark reds ranging from violetish reds to brownish reds. Most almandine garnets are mined in India and Brazil.

How can I tell if my almandine garnet is real?

Real garnet has highly saturated colors (every color except blue). Natural stones have imperfections and crystal inclusions, which make them unique. Demantoid (green garnet) has special “horsetail” inclusions, which is a sign of real stone. Real garnets have no such bright fire as their synthetic analogs.

Is almandine garnet rare?

Most almandine garnets are opaque, so gem-quality transparent specimens are considered rare. This type of garnet can range from purplish red to dark red. Almandine is also found in the form of star garnets. Red garnets are found all over the world, with deposits on every continent.