| The garnet family is large and varied, with | | | | wear and tear, and uncomplicated to work into |
| members ranging from the common red | | | | jewelry. Due to its hardness and composition |
| almandite to the rare green tsavorite and | | | | pyrope garnet comes in a variety of cuts and |
| demantoid. The garnets are differently colored | | | | shapes. The deep red stone looks superb in gold |
| minerals all with a common crystal structure and | | | | settings. Large carat sizes are available at |
| varying (but related) chemical compositions. Six | | | | attractive prices. In ancient times it was believed |
| common varieties of garnet are recognized based | | | | that garnets illuminated the night and prevented |
| on their chemical composition. They are pyrope, | | | | the wearer from evil. |
| almandine, spessartite, grossularite, uvarovite and | | | | Pyrope is magnesium aluminum garnet by |
| andradite. | | | | composition. Iron can substitute for the |
| Pyrope Garnet is the most famous of the red | | | | magnesium and become more like almandine, iron |
| garnets. Its dark, blood red color is distinctive and | | | | aluminum garnet. Pure pyrope and pure almandine |
| attractive, often resembling the color of ruby. It is | | | | are actually rare in nature and most specimens |
| often found inclusion free. The amazing brilliance of | | | | are a mixture of the two. The change in density |
| pyrope is caused by its high refraction index. | | | | from almandine (4.3) to pyrope (3.6) is the only |
| Pyrope is sometimes referred to as Bohemian | | | | good test to determine a specimen's likely identity. |
| garnet from its historical source in former | | | | Pyrope deposits are found in China, Madagascar, |
| Czechoslovakia. Pyrope was the European fashion | | | | Myanmar, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and |
| stone of the 18th and 19th centuries. The | | | | the United States. Deposits in the Czech Republic |
| hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale explains | | | | do still exist, but are of minor importance. Unlike |
| why these gemstones are so excellent to wear. | | | | many gemstones, pyrope garnet is not enhanced |
| Pyrope is quite sturdy and resistant to everyday | | | | by any sort of treatment. |