The chemical formula for garnet is multivariate consisting of two parts Y-component and three parts X. A consequence of this chemistry is all the different types of garnets which are listed as the following: pyrope, almandine, spessartine, grossular hessonite, grossular tsavorite, uvarorite, and andradite. “Rare-earth” garnets are known to be grown in the laboratory by replacing the silicon atom in the chemical formula with another element. One example of a rare-earth garnet, known as YAG, yttrium aluminum garnet, uses aluminum instead of silicon. YAG was the predecessor of cubic zirconia which was first developed in the 1970s
Garnets have been found in Roman jewelry as well as barbarian jewelry crafted in the period of Late Antiquity. The inlaid technique set in gold having been observed by collectors is said to originate from either Anglo-Saxon England or from the Black Sea. Scientific data has found garnets were imported along a trade route leading from Sri Lanka to the Old World. Garnets have a shared reputation with other red-colored stones and have been found installed inside homes as fetish. Spirits were believed to reside inside the stone, so offerings of blood were made based on fear to prevent misfortune and black magic. But, the symbolism of the color red imported upon the garnet a therapeutic mythology regarding inflammatory diseases. Over time, a belief emerged that garnets could remove anger and discord from the bearer.
As late as the 14th century, the word “garnet” in Middle English meant “dark red”, so more or less described the color much in the same way topaz did for the color yellow. Although, France’s word for “grain, seed” was similarly worded as “grenate”, the sign for a garnet that may have been related to the pomum granatum, signifing the humble pomegranate — that connection of the seed to a mineral is reserved for the red zircon in regards to its ideal cut and faceting. Jewelers during the Middle Ages sometimes referred to garnet as hyacinth although the term also applied to red zircon due to a similar color that happened to be cinnamon. Garnets were classified in antiquity as “hot and dry” by Aristotle; and for this reason garnets were excluded from the family of hyacinth stones. Being red and transparent, garnets were said to have a darker red hue than of a carbuncle, a semi-spherical ruby cabochon; thus, the more valuable garnets were en cabochon set in a black background.
“If you would cherish friendship true, in Aquarius well you’ll do to wear this gem of warmest hue — the garnet” by Anonymous
Granatus and Violaceus are both referenced in a medieval lapidary and refer to the pyrope (red) and almandine garnets. As early as the Hellenistic period and as late as the Roman period, the two varieties were crafted as gems oftentimes engraved intaglio. Although the reddish garnet is the most frequent, they come in the colors of the rainbow including colorless. Remarkably, garnet can have color zoning. The opaque varieties however are used as abrasives; for the rest, it’s their transparency which makes them an ideal gemstone. Garnets are hence categorized as semi-precious yet will one-day improve in status.
Aristotle (384-322) was a Greek philosopher and scientist who wrote many of the concepts embedded in Western thinking. His work on philosophy divided it into smaller parts namely logic, metaphysics, physics, art, ethics, and politics; furthermore, nature itself was divided into parts namely air, earth, fire, water, and ether. His metaphysics on being and ethics on virtue are relevant to gemology.