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The Gemstone Almandine (Garnet)
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Almandine is the most common form of the gemstone Garnet. The term Garnet describes a group name for several closely related minerals that form important gemstones, and Almandine is an individual member mineral of the Garnet group. Almandine is usually opaque and unfit for gemstones use; though the less common transparent to translucent forms make fine gemstones. In the gem trade, the term Almandine is rarely used on its own. It is either generically called "Garnet", or "Almandine Garnet". |
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Almandine is almost invariably dark in color, and it forms dark red to reddish-brown Garnet gemstones. Almandine is the hardest form of Garnet, and a pure deep red is its most valuable color. Almandine Garnets are occasionally hollowed in their underside to allow more light to enter a stone, giving a cut gemstone a lighter appearance. If the bottom of an Almandine gemstone is covered
by a jewelry setting, the only way to easily determine if it is
hollow is by its lighter weight.
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Almandine is cut into dark red Garnet gemstones and used in all forms of jewelery, especially rings, earrings, and pendants. Lesser quality Almandine is polished into cabochons and beads for use in bracelets and necklaces. Almandine is also tumbled into smooth irregular stones for jewelry. Very dark or heavily included Almandine garnets are cut and
polished into cabochons, and asterism (in the form of a weak four rayed
"star") is observable in Almandine garnets from certain localities.
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Garnet gemstones are not enhanced, and their colors are always natural.
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Although Almandine is common worldwide, gem forms of Almandine are much less prevalent. Sources include India, Sri Lanka, China, Madagascar, Australia, Brazil, and the U.S. (Alaska, Idaho, North Carolina, and New York).
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Most dark red gemstones on the market are either Almandine or Pyrope Garnets. Almandine and Pyrope Garnets can be very difficult to distinguish from each other, though Almandine is usually the darker of the two and is heaver. Dark red Spinel and Rubellite Tourmaline can also resemble Almandine, and Ruby is usually a lighter red color.
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Have a question about Almandine? Visit our Q&A Community and ask the experts!
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We strive for accurate content and locality information. If you feel any of the content is incorrect, or if you feel we are missing vital locality information, please fill out the form below so we can update the site. If you are requesting a locality be added, please only include significant locality occurences for the mineral.
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