How Much Do Garnet Stones Cost?
Garnet stones were part of the minerals used during the Bronze Age, and these stones are usually used as a jewelry accessory. Garnet stones are commonly placed in necklaces, bracelets or as a decorative accessory. Garnet is the birthstone of those who were born in January.
How much do garnet stones cost?
The cost of a garnet stone will depend on the carat weight, cut, color, size, clarity and where it’s purchased from. While some think it’s the carat that affects the price, it isn’t always the since the overall quality is often the deciding factor.
Loose rough garnet stones can cost anywhere from $0.60 to $10 per carat.
AwesomeGems.com has a variety of garnet stones available for sale. For instance, a 0.05-carat demantoid garnet round mixed cut retails for $1,000, while a one-carat color-change garnet stone retails for $1,500.
| Garnet Variety | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Color Change Garnet | $500 to $1,500 per carat. This will depend on the cut, clarity and color. |
| Demantoid Garnet | $800 to $1,200 per carat for a Russian demantoid. The more vivid the green is, the more it can be. |
| Malaia Garnet | $300 to $500 per carat. Depending on the cut, clarity and size. |
| Rhodolite Garnet | $40 to $65 per carat. This is the least expensive garnet stone of the market. |
| Spessartite Garnet | $300 for a higher quality orange-red to as much as $2,500 for a vivid orange. |
| Tsavorite Garnet | $400 for one carat with a nice color to as much as $2,200 for a larger stone with a top color. Anything over one carat is rare. |
What is going to be included?
Although a garnet stone is associated with the color red, these gemstones can be found in virtually any color. The stones won’t be found in their pure state and will always be mixed with other garnet species. On the market, these stones will be referred to as a blend or a solid-state series and should always be in its natural state. Since they are readily available, there’s no need to create an artificial alternative.
Garnet stones can come in the following shapes: beads, cushion cut, emerald cut, en cabochon, heart-shaped, marquise, oval, pear, princess, radiant and trillant. The shape won’t affect the price and is commonly faceted to an item. For example, a pear shape would be ideal for a necklace, while a trilliant cut would be best suited for a ring.
In size, these stones can be microscopic and will come from the crystals on its host rock. The average size is a half inch to a full inch.
Most stones found on the market will be less than a carat and anything over three will be considered very rare.
As for clarity, the following grade is used by gemologists: F, IF, VVS, VS, SI1, SI2, I1, I2, I3 and Dcl.
Garnet types
Garnet species will include almandine, andradite, grossular, hydrogrossular, pyrope, spessartite and uvarovite. Non-gem species include goldmanite, henritermierite, kimzeyite, majorite, schorlomite, and yamatoite. Blends such as rhodolite, malaia and color change are considered to be a garnet variety.
Almandine
This is the most popular stone you will find on the market. It can come in a spectrum of colors, but the most popular will be a red. This gem is often found in Sri Lanka and India.
Andradite
Known as a rare gem, andradite has the largest dispersion and can have more enthusiasm than a diamond.
Color Change
In recent years, some garnet stones were to change colors in an artificial light. In the early 200s, blue garnets with color flashes were found in Madagascar. These color changing stones are a pyrope-spessartite blend.
Demantoid
This popular light green garnet is found in the Ural Mountains of Russia and means “diamond-like.” This is the rarest out of all garnet stones.
Grossular
These gems, unlike the other garnets, won’t come in a darker color. Being found in just about any tone, even transparent, the light to medium tones, along with its energetic colors, make for a fine jewelry piece.
Hydrogrossular
This garnet stone will never be transparent and will be commonly found in blueish green or sometimes white and pink.
Malaia
In the past, this was the term used when a garnet stone couldn’t be described. Today, it’s described as a stone which blends pyrope and spessartite.
Pyrope
Coming in a dark toned red, people often consider this a ruby alternative. It can also come in almost black color as well.
Rhodolite
Blending the pyrope and almandine stone, this blend has a distinct purple or raspberry color. This will be the least expensive stone on the market.
Spessartite
Also referred to as a spessartine, this garnet will commonly come in an orange-type color which often has a hue of red. This orange color comes from the trace of iron in the stone. This gem is commonly found in Germany, India and the United States.
Tsavorite
This rare garnet is colored by chromium and was discovered in the late 1960s in Tanzania. Rivaling the emerald, this stone is often less than two carats.
Uvarovite
Out of all types listed here, this will be the rarest one. This rich, dark-colored stone rivals the emerald and is always tiny in shape.
Tips to know:
A garnet is known to be one of the most complex in the gem world since it’s not a single species, but rather, it consists of several.
Its hardness is 6.5 to 7.5.
Cleaning a garnet stone is simple. Most of the time, warmer water with some soap can do the trick. Simply soak the jewelry in the water for up to 30 minutes and polish with a soft cloth. While some ultrasonic cleaners may work with your stone, consult with a professional before you do because some cleaners have been known to crack the stone because of the cleaner’s sensitivity.
Always be wary of any seller who claims they have a flawless stone. No matter where you purchase the stone, a garnet stone will always have some sort of flaw. Common flaws may include cracks, chips, crystals, silk fibers and cavities.
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