Regular garnet is a very popular gemstone which can be found in all sorts of colors, shapes and sizes and includes such famous names as tsavorite, demantoid and pyrope.
Every now and then the right mix of mineral make-up and crystal structure will produce a Color Change Garnet which will display a dramatic shift of color when viewed under different light sources such as daylight and candlelight.
Color Change Garnet Colors
While regular garnet can be found in almost any color you could imagine, Color Change Garnets tend to come in combinations of yellow, orange, pink, red, brown and purple or at least varying tones of all these colors. Very rarely a Color Change Garnet can feature tones of blue.
The shift in color is due to the molecular structure of the gemstone, the various mineral impurities within the garnet and the source of the light. Even the temperature and the time of day can affect the appearance of the color.
When we see color what we are actually seeing is white light containing all the colors of the spectrum hitting an object, some colors being absorbed and one or two bouncing back to our eyes.
In natural daylight there is quite a balanced amount of waves from all the colors of the spectrum so a yellowish garnet, for example, will look yellow. Incandescent or candle light, however, has a lot more red color waves and a lot fewer blue color waves so the garnet will look more like an orange gemstone.
Read more about gemstones colors here
Color Change Garnet Species
Garnets are made up of a number of minerals with similar crystal structure and include a number of different species such as almandine, pyrope, spessartite and grossular. Regular garnet gemstones are never a single species but a mix of two or three – this helps produce the myriad of colors.
Nearly all Color Change Garnets are a mix of Pyrope and Spessartine and the ratios of one to another can be very varied. These two species of garnet can have such impurities such as manganese, iron, chromium, and vanadium which all add to the diversity of colors.
What are the spiritual benefits of Color Change Garnet?
Garnet is called the 'Stone of Health' for its energizing and revitalizing properties.
Other virtues include:
- Grounding
- Improves Sexuality
- Detoxifying and Purifying
- Balances Energy
See our detailed article on Garnet meaning and uses
Color Change Garnet and the Chakras
By tradition, garnets are linked to the Root Chakra which deals with issues such as security and anxiety. Color Change Garnets are often golden brown and burnt orange colors so these gemstones can certainly help unblock the Root Chakra although any garnets with definite orange or yellow colors can also be used to unblock the Sacral and Solar Plexus Chakras.
If your Color Change Garnet switches between two distinct colors - say orange and yellow - then it can help realign two separate Chakras.
Find more details on Chakra gemstones here
Color Change Garnet Price
Color Change gemstones of any type are rare and can demand fairly high prices depending on the usual price factors that affect all gemstones - color, clarity and carat weight. In addition, a dramatic shift in color when moved from daylight to incandescent light will make a color change gemstone even more valuable.
With such a varied gemstone as Color Change Garnet, it will come as no surprise that there is quite a range of price brackets with this gemstone.
Probably the most expensive version would be any Color Change Garnet featuring the exceptionally rare blue tones - a gemstone over 5 carats could easily be over a $1000 per carat.
More commonly, Color Change Garnet will appear in yellowish orange to honey brown colors in carat weights of 1 - 5 carats and for these you can expect to pay between $50 and $150 per carat.
Color Change Garnet Treatments
Color Change Garnets, like all garnet gemstones, are not enhanced by any artificial treatments.
Color Change Garnet History
I doubt if there is a gemstone with more history than the garnet - found in the jewelry of Egyptian Pharoahs, used as a guiding light on Noah's ark, worn as seals by the Roman emperors, one of the stones of Aaron's breastplate in the bible and even discovered in the grave of a tribal chieftain buried over 5000 years ago.
In more modern times, garnets are still beguiling us with their beauty and discoveries of new varieties such as Demantoid in the Russian Ural Mountains or Tsavorite in the foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro in East Africa just add to their legend.
The recent finds of Color Change Garnet in Madagascar, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Norway and the US are equally as thrilling.
Where is Color Change Garnet found?
The leading source of Color Change Garnets is the Umba valley in Tanzania as well as the Bekily District in Madagascar. Other excellent sources include Sri Lanka, Norway, the USA and Mozambique.
What jewelry is Color Change Garnet suitable for?
Color Change Garnet is rated at 6.5 - 7 on Mohs hardness scale which makes durable enough for all types of jewelry including daily wear items. Color Change Garnets can be found in a wide range of shapes and sizes so can make excellent multi stone jewelry pieces as well as marvelous pendants or eye-catching rings.
Birthstones and Anniversaries
Garnet is the official birthstone of January and would make a great gift for anyone who has a birthday at the beginning of the new year.
Garnet is the traditional gemstone to celebrate the 2nd wedding anniversary.
