Demantoid Garnet:
Basic facts:
Origin: Russia
Colors: Green & green/yellow
Family: Garnet
Hardness: 6.5
Refractive Index: 1.85 – 1.89
Specific Gravity: 3.85
Treatment: Not treated
A favorite of the famous Russian goldsmith Karl Fabergé, demantoid garnet is one of the most desirable of all colored gemstones and very rare. Discovered in 1855 in Russia's central Ural Mountains at two alluvial deposits, it was first thought to be an emerald, and even took the name "Uralian emerald" until gemologists took a closer look. A colored variety of andradite garnet, the name demantoid is derived from the Old German word Demant meaning "diamond-like," because of a luster and dispersion superior to that of diamonds.
Commonly known as "horsetail" inclusions, some Russian demantoid garnets have golden byssolite threads that form beautiful patterns that resemble the tail of a horse. Demantoid garnets with prominent horsetail inclusions are particularly sought after. Much of the Russian material is worked out but small-scale mining resumed in Russia in 1991. Much of the demantoid garnet on the market today comes from relatively new deposits in Namibia. Due to a luster better than diamond, demantoid garnet is an absolute must for any serious collector.
Basic facts:
Origin: Russia
Colors: Green & green/yellow
Family: Garnet
Hardness: 6.5
Refractive Index: 1.85 – 1.89
Specific Gravity: 3.85
Treatment: Not treated
A favorite of the famous Russian goldsmith Karl Fabergé, demantoid garnet is one of the most desirable of all colored gemstones and very rare. Discovered in 1855 in Russia's central Ural Mountains at two alluvial deposits, it was first thought to be an emerald, and even took the name "Uralian emerald" until gemologists took a closer look. A colored variety of andradite garnet, the name demantoid is derived from the Old German word Demant meaning "diamond-like," because of a luster and dispersion superior to that of diamonds.
Commonly known as "horsetail" inclusions, some Russian demantoid garnets have golden byssolite threads that form beautiful patterns that resemble the tail of a horse. Demantoid garnets with prominent horsetail inclusions are particularly sought after. Much of the Russian material is worked out but small-scale mining resumed in Russia in 1991. Much of the demantoid garnet on the market today comes from relatively new deposits in Namibia. Due to a luster better than diamond, demantoid garnet is an absolute must for any serious collector.