The Complete Guide To Rhodolite Garnet
Rhodolite garnet is a variant from the garnet species family. Its rose identifies it with purplish hues; at times, Rhodolite even contains a tint of red. Due to their attractive color hues, which is often very clean without any inclusions and flaws, they have quickly grown into standard jewelry gemstone.
Rhodolite stone is a hybrid of almandine and pyrope garnets. It is highly valued for its sensuous appeal and aesthetics, all thanks to its color. Surprisingly, Rhodolite derived its name from the Greek word rhodon meaning rose. One of the great properties they hold is they are eye-clean which means they are free from flaws and inclusions when seen with the naked eye, unlike other colored gemstones.
Moreover, Rhodolite’s clarity and natural color are what make them one of the most valuable varieties of garnet. It may be tempting to confuse rhodolite garnets with deeper red color garnet types, notably almandine garnets, which contain darker, deeper red hues.
Rhodolite Garnet: A Brief History Of The Gemstone
Is Rhodolite a natural stone? Yes, Rhodolite is the finest red garnet, a mix of two varieties of red garnet – almandite and pyrope which, when combined, produces a gorgeous purple-red hue that is highly desired.
The use of garnets in jewelry design can be tracked down to historical times; Pharaohs wore red garnet necklaces in Egypt, and they were widely traded in ancient Rome. Rhodolite garnet came into existence much later and is connected with the U.S state of Rhode Island.
In the 1890s, sometime in North Carolina, a mineralogist discovered Rhodolite mineral in gem-rich Cowee Valley. Later, new deposits were found in Brazil, Mozambique, the United States, Greenland, Tanzania, and Sri Lanka.
Read More: Top 5 Benefits Of Aquamarine Stone
Properties Of Rhodolite Garnet
Let us discuss the properties of Rhodolite Garnet to have a better understanding.
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Hardness and strength
Over the years, garnets have developed a reputation for their gorgeous color hues and relatively high level of durability. Rhodolite has a rating between 6.5-7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness meaning that they are quite durable. You can consider them in a variety of jewelry and different setting choice. However, it must be treated with love and care, as with any other gemstone.
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Treatment
The intense hues of this gemstone are completely subtle and natural. The majority of the rhodolite stones available in the market do not require any kind of treatment or artificial enhancements. However, it is possible to come across synthetic Rhodolite, which generally is just look-alikes. Always purchase from a reputed brand to ensure you are buying real and natural rhodolite garnet.
If you are wondering about the genuine authenticity of the garnet stone, learn more about how to identify real garnet.
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Value
Is Rhodolite garnet valuable? It is a valuable type of garnet, and the starting price of an heirloom quality piece of 1-carat stone can be approximately $1,000. A high-quality 1-carat pyrope-almandine garnet can be worth around $300. Therefore, the average and lower-grade gems of both varieties will cost relatively less.
Quality And Grading Of Rhodolite Garnet
This versatile gemstone can be used for almost all types of jewelry carving, but before buying, you should keep the following factors in mind:
- Color – Rhodolite is well known for its vibrant natural hues. Common shades of the stone are not very dark, but intense rose-red undertones are considered highly desirable. The grading of color is done on the basis of intensity and saturation. You should prefer the one that looks vivid and keep an eye out for gorgeous, brilliant raspberry-red color as those stones are highly in demand.
- Clarity – How much does a rhodolite cost, and the value of your stone depends on its clarity. The more flawless it is without any inclusions, the higher the price. However, rhodolites are blessed with good saturation and deep color, so most of the flaws are not visible, especially to the naked eye. Always avoid stones with flaws and inclusions that can be seen with the bare eye.
- Cut – Because of the stone’s transparent clarity, this stone is often cut into varied shapes with oval, round, and pear being the most common choice. This gemstone is also available in cabochon form and is usually faceted to increase its brilliance. Prefer a radiant stone that showcases a clean cut when viewed from every angle.
- Carat – These gemstones are found in all sizes and weights with 1-carat and 2-carats being the most popular choice. The rhodolite garnet price increases once it crosses the 1-carat mark. However, when you pick this gem, it’s recommended that you prioritize the quality because Rhodolite with a lesser carat weight will always be a better option than a lower-grade quality stone with a higher carat weight.
The broad spectrum of colors and wider choice found in rhodolite garnet and its cost-effective price make this garnet type a solid choice. Moreover, Rhodolite finds itself in the top tier of the commercially available garnet varieties, they are price competitive and hence are found at affordable prices.