Demantoid Garnet

Demantoid garnet

Demantoid garnets are the most rare and precious representatives of andradite, a species of natural garnets. The presence of chromium and iron determines their bright green color. Rich color palette includes demantoid blue-green, brownish-green and yellowish-green shades. The presence of yellow tones due to the presence of impurities of titanium. We observed different variants of color intensity ranging from pale to saturated colors.

Faceted demantoid striking play of light like diamonds. Beautiful and stunning rainbow born on the faces of the stones, due to the high variance (0,057). This value exceeds the same indicator of diamonds (0,042). Therefore, the shape of cut for demantoid, as a rule, diamond, allowing to maximize his game. Hence the name, which can be translated as "like a diamond".

The first finds of demantoid garnet occurred in 1868. Finnish mineralogist Nils Nordling found among the rocks of gold deposits near Nizhny Tagil factory in the Urals. The discovery of the largest deposits of Sysert was held in 1874. Amazing beauty and size of Sysert Russia struck the imagination of contemporaries. In the XIX century began to collect minerals on the Bobrovka river. Modern Ural demantoid is a brand, like Burmese spinel, Kashmir sapphires and Colombian emeralds. The price of Urals finds of high quality jewellery is growing every year and may exceed 10 000 USD for 1 carat. Samples over 2-3 carats are extremely rare and considered to be unique. Experts believe the presence of inclusions of fibrous bisoliton formed in the form of a "horse tail", the defining characteristic in the diagnosis of Ural demantoids. In this case, the inclusion of a positive effect on the cost of the stones.

Mining of demantoid garnet is also carried out in the valley of Ala (Italy), Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Iran. The main supply of quality stones in the world jewelry markets come from Namibia and Madagascar. Demantoids from Namibia are of good purity and admire the amazing play of light, but have one significant drawback – the absence of fibrous inclusions of byssolite, unlike demantoid garnet mined in the Urals. African stones can reach 3-5 carats, but their performance and color saturation are significantly lower Ural.

Demantoid is the only variety of garnet jewelry, which may be subjected to refining (low temperature processing) to strengthen green color, lightening of the stone or removal of brown. That demantoid garnets can be heat treated, the world Gemological community has learned recently. Therefore, the Gemological laboratories do not always indicate the expert opinions, the fact of the presence of stones in the signs of heat treatment.

High-quality demantoids are used by renowned jewelry houses for the manufacture of pieces of exclusive products. The world famous are samples of jewelry with these stones from the famous jewelry company Tiffany & Co. In a number of works of Russian writers appear green garnets. Pre-revolutionary workshop of the famous jeweler Karl Faberge often used demantoid in the manufacture of unique jewelry.

Surprisingly, grenades are bright green in color attributed to the most costly stones in tsarist Russia. After a long period of neglect of Russia during the XX century, it returned to its former popularity. However, in the Windows of jewelry stores there are virtually no products with these wonderful stones. The thing in the high cost of demantoid garnet, a component is often several thousand dollars per carat. So the true connoisseurs of fine jewelry bought products with green grenades from private jewelers. The most highly valued of the Ural minerals with better quality characteristics. Rings and rings with demantoid garnet is not only women but also many men.

Fashion trends determine the conditions of the wearing of rings and earrings with demantoid garnet. Experts recommend to wear jewelry with green grenades on the evening of the event, to maximize their variance. Contemporary jewelry collection is often decorated with products combining demantoid garnets and other precious stones, such as diamonds or sapphires. Collectors spare no means to replenish their collection a necklace with demantoid garnets and sapphires, or the whole jewelry set green garnets and diamonds. The cost of collection specimens of the tens of thousands of dollars.