There are many known precious crystals that differ in color, structure and properties. Known among them is the black garnet stone. It has different varieties, which differ in healing and magical properties. This mineral becomes an amulet for some zodiac signs, and in each specific case, it will work differently. It is often considered as a talisman for Capricorns and Libras. It is able to increase performance and protect people from serious diseases.
Garnet stone - a little history
The first mention of it is found in the Bible, where it appears under the name anfrax ("coal"), which was given to it by the Hellenes, and in Ancient Rome it was known as the carbuncle stone. In Rus', the mineral was known as venissa or bekhet and was used for medicinal purposes, for example, to stop bleeding and heal wounds.
The ancient Persians considered garnet a stone of strength, and medieval crusaders considered it a symbol of courage and bravery. Christians used pyrope to decorate church instruments, icons, and book bindings.
How did the name pomegranate come about?
The alchemist Magnus, who compared the dark red crystals to the seeds of the fruit of the same name, translating granatus from Latin as “grain-like,” gave the stone its current name. In the 17th century, after the discovery of large deposits in Bohemia, it began to be considered a semi-precious stone.
It was Czech jewelers who truly appreciated the beauty of this precious stone, creating beautiful jewelry from it. Which are valued all over the world and are very expensive.
Proper wearing of products
There are no special rules on how to wear jewelry inlaid with garnet. Rings and rings with stones are worn on the middle or index fingers. Such jewelry complements casual and office wear well. Every day you can wear brooches, small pendants and bracelets with green and pink garnets. The beauty of the evening dress will be emphasized by earrings and a necklace inlaid with red crystals.
Put on jewelry after applying makeup. It is better to avoid contact with aggressive substances on the stone. This may cause it to become cloudy. Periodically wipe the jewelry with a soft cloth soaked in a mild soap solution.
Pomegranate mining locations
Garnet, in all its diversity of minerals, has been pleasing to the eye since the times of the Scythian, Roman and Arab civilizations thanks to deposits emerging from the ground.
This mineral is found all over the world: in Russia, the USA, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. Garnet is mined in Tanzania, the Republic of Madagascar, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka; The largest deposits of almandine are located in India and Brazil, Alaska, Canada, Austria, Japan and Zambia.
Gem-quality orange garnet is also found in the United States, Madagascar, Sweden, Mexico, Italy and Russia.
The main deposits of blood-red and green garnet stones are located in the Central Bohemian Mountains, the homeland of the famous Czech garnets.
There are also mining sites in Russia: the Kitelevskoye garnet deposit in Karelia, Chupinskoye, garnet is found in kimberlite pipes in Yakutia and the Urals. Such deposits are known as the Saranovsky mine, Bilimbaevsky, Akhmatovsky mines, placers in the Nizhny Tagil region, deposits of the Bobrovka River, etc.
Despite its apparent abundance, pure gem-quality garnet specimens are rare. Most garnet deposits are mined for other minerals.
Price
On Russian Internet sites you can buy jewelry and collectible material (price/RUB):
- set (earrings + ring; silver) – 5,300;
- bracelet – 5 450;
- brush units (0.7 – 3 cm) – 240 – 500;
- drusen (6x4.5x4 cm) – 2,800.
Often in product descriptions, melanite appears as a black garnet, and Kazakhstan is listed as the place of extraction of the collection material.
When setting the price, the material of the frame and the presence of other stones are important.
Mineral varieties and color
There are about 13 types of garnets with different physical and chemical properties, only 8 of them are used in jewelry, which have bright and unusual colors.
Pyrope
A popular type of garnet, known for its rich blood red color, sometimes found in a darker shade of burgundy brown. This stone gets its name from the Greek “pyropos”, which translates as “fire”. Pyrope is a mineral, a silicate from the garnet group. The most famous variety is the Bohemian pyrope garnet .
Rhodolite
A rare variety of garnet with a dark pink or purple hue, found only in some deposits in Africa and very rarely.
Almandine
It is considered the hardest variety of garnet, but is comparable in popularity to pyrope, which is often confused with ruby due to its deep, astringent color and high strength. It is mined in many countries, but the largest deposits are in Siberia, Finland and the United States of America. Almandine is a royal variety of garnet.
Andradite
This name hides a whole subgroup of minerals, including 4 types:
- topazolite;
- shorlomite;
- melanitis;
- demantoid.
The latter is considered the most valuable due to its light green color and unusual brilliance of the diamond. The emerald hue of garnet is due to the addition of chromium and iron ore, as this rare mineral is mined in mines.
Topazolite got its name because of its yellow color and external resemblance to topaz. Despite this, the mineral is not used in jewelry, but it can often be found as an exhibit in private collections.
Black grenades
The deep black color of shorlomite is due to the high content of titanium ore. Recently, this stone was recognized as a separate type of garnet and is rare.
Black melanite, like shorlomite, contains titanium alloys, but in smaller quantities. The mineral is opaque with an oily, resinous hue and has a star-shaped structure with sharp edges. Black garnet is mined in Germany, Russia, the USA and Ukraine.
Spessartine - red garnet
Spessartine is usually orange-red or yellow-orange, although brown, pinkish or red specimens are also found. Its name comes from the place where it was first mined - the city of Spessarty in Germany.
Uvarovite - emerald green garnet
Another name for uvarovite, “Ural emerald,” comes from its rich emerald green color and the place where the mineral was first found. The first green garnet stone was found in 1832 in the Urals (Saranovsky mine) and was named after Sergei Uvarov, a Russian scientist and minister of education.
Hessonite is a brown and honey-colored garnet.
Hessonite is a variety of garnet, it is characterized by its brown color and has the lowest hardness of all the mineral varieties, as its name suggests: hessonite means “weak” or “less.”
Leucogranate - colorless garnet
Leucogranate has no color and is also called white garnet.
Garnet chameleon
An expensive and rare variety of garnet that looks like alexandrite , its distinctive feature is the ability to change color depending on the lighting. For example, in sunlight it turns blue with a slight greenish tint, and in artificial light it turns purple.
Compatibility with other stones
Garnet is a capricious stone in terms of compatibility with other minerals. There are not so many stones that are ideally combined with a “bloody” crystal, which is due to its belonging to different natural elements.
Red crystals belong to the fire element, green crystals belong to the air element. Of all the varieties of pomegranate, only uvarovite can make friends with the elements of earth and water.
All varieties of pomegranate can be combined with:
- diamond;
- pyrite;
- carnelian;
- ruby;
- topaz;
- amethyst;
- coral;
- beryl;
- rock crystal.
You cannot combine pomegranate with:
- opal;
- pearls;
- zircon;
- tourmaline;
- emerald;
- alexandrite;
- aquamarine;
- moonstone.
Artificial pomegranate
This stone was used in the manufacture of various industrial parts - from abrasives to laser emitters, so it has been synthesized since the first half of the 20th century. Artificial garnet is not a fake in the full sense of the word, since it was not originally intended for use in the jewelry industry.
Moreover, using high-quality synthetic garnets to imitate real ones does not make sense: due to the nature of the production process, the price of an artificial garnet similar to a natural one is comparable to the price of a natural one. On the other hand, thanks to the synthesis process, stones of any color and shade can be obtained, for example, deep blue garnets (which do not occur in nature).
Synthetic stones are used in industry, as an additive in mortars, in microelectronics, in laser devices, etc.
Care and wear of opalite
Opalite is a fairly fragile material, so products with it must be worn carefully. A fall or other accidental mechanical impact can lead to chips and cracks. In addition, this gem is not resistant to household chemicals and temperature changes. It is necessary to avoid prolonged exposure of the stone to direct sunlight.
Opalite requires careful care. Approximately once every 2 weeks, wash the product in warm soapy water and rub with a soft velor cloth. It is better to store such jewelry in a fabric case.
Jewelry with mineral
Mostly red varieties of garnet, especially almandine, are used to make jewelry. This stone is used to decorate women's clothing, but dark pyrope is also sometimes used to make men's accessories, such as silver or gold cufflinks and rings.
The cost of the mineral is not very high compared to other semi-precious stones; its price depends on the metal used, as well as on accompanying inclusions:
Stones used for jewelry are cut into cabochons or polished. There are also products that have undergone minimal processing, for example, beads made of polished stones that cannot be cut and look as natural and beautiful as possible.
Main characteristics
Garnet is a fairly versatile stone, as it includes many types, divided by color and origin. Due to fashion trends, black garnets have become the most common.
Despite the fact that black is the color of mourning, crystal looks elegant and discreet in jewelry. According to the composition, garnets can be classified as silicates. And the color of a stone is formed during its growth and depends on the elements found in the ground.
Indicators such as transparency and brilliance depend on the color of the crystal. Black andradite is opaque and has a glassy luster. The hardness of black garnet on the Mohs scale is estimated at 6.5-7 points.
Pomegranate - healing properties
In ancient times, people believed in the healing power of pomegranate; It was believed that only the red varieties of this stone had healing properties, since all other varieties were unknown to man. Modern lithotherapists have borrowed the knowledge of the ancients, and today almandine pyrope is used in alternative medicine to treat the human circulatory system.
- Pomegranate can stop severe bleeding caused by injury.
- Promotes rapid restoration of blood cells.
- Pomegranate can normalize blood pressure.
Properties in lithotherapy
In addition to its importance for the circulatory system, the mineral has other beneficial properties that lithotherapists use.
Prevention of colds. Garnet set in gold protects the owner from pulmonary diseases.
Normalizes the immune system, the mineral in a silver frame is a protector for physically weak people prone to frequent illnesses. This amulet strengthens the immune system, reducing the risk of infections entering the body.
A source of vital energy, the pomegranate acts as a generator of vigor for the owner, helping him to resist illness or stressful situations.
For headaches and those suffering from frequent migraines, lithotherapists recommend wearing a gold ring with this mineral on the right hand.
Interestingly, this powder was used by medieval healers to relieve stomach pain and increase physical vigor. To do this, it was recommended to drink the powder with water.
Modern traditional medicine attributes healing properties to pomegranate for endocrine diseases, allergies, skin diseases, any inflammatory processes, as well as antipyretic properties.
Healing properties of the stone
Like many other natural minerals, pomegranate has the ability to heal. Its beneficial properties were noticed back in Ancient Greece. After this, the stone began to be used as an assistant for ailments of varying severity.
The range of possibilities of the mineral is quite wide.
Properties of pomegranate in lithotherapy:
- heals wounds;
- actively fights inflammatory processes;
- relieves headaches, migraines;
- reduces pain from an allergic reaction, and also weakens the consequences of skin diseases;
- treats gastrointestinal diseases;
- normalizes disorders in the cardiovascular system.
In the past, this gem was considered almost a magic stone that could stop bleeding. The mineral was applied to the wound to heal with its energy and feel a surge of strength.
The healing properties of the stone are closely related to its color. Red garnet is considered the strongest. Other colors cannot compare with its power, but they can also bring tangible benefits. To heal the nervous system, you will need a green gem, but yellow garnet is recommended for use for skin problems.
Another point to consider is the appearance of the decoration. By combining the right type of amulet with its color, you will achieve the most amazing effect.
Which decoration to choose:
- beads are suitable for the treatment of lung diseases and headaches - being close to these areas, they affect them most strongly;
- pendants should be bought by those who have stomach problems;
- bracelets - usually lithotherapists prescribe wearing bracelets for people suffering from allergies.
The ring also solves skin problems, but it is much more often used in love magic. Paired rings with garnets will become a protective talisman for a couple, protecting them from separation and depression due to everyday problems.
Magical properties of pomegranate
In A. Gurinovich’s book about the magical properties of pomegranate, it is written that pomegranate symbolizes power, gives goodwill to people, fame and honor. The stone helps to earn money and win, as well as get rid of anxiety and depression.
Peruvian pomegranate strengthens character, willpower, imparts intuition and wit, awakens interest in mental work, helps to gain knowledge and become wiser.
The garnet stone is a talisman for traveling by water and land; the mineral protects the owner from poison, from assassination attempts, and helps in the investigation of crimes.
The book “Lithotherapy” (Moscow, Pedagogika-Press publishing house, 1994) says that garnet is a stone of love, anger, flame and passion, and that the magic of this gem is associated with the Sahasrara and Svadhisthana chakras. The rest repeats what has already been said before.
What does scorch stone cure?
It is believed that contact with opalite helps eliminate stress and chronic inflammatory processes. In addition, this gem, in combination with other traditional medicine, helps a person get rid of nervous tension and reduces the risk of emotional breakdowns. In people suffering from epilepsy, contact with opalite reduces the number of seizures. The gem relieves nightmares and improves sleep quality.
Opalite improves night sleep.
Opalite has a beneficial effect on the condition of the digestive and urinary systems. Contact with this stone prevents the formation of kidney stones. The gem helps eliminate inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract. In addition, it reduces the severity of asthma symptoms. Opalite has a beneficial effect on hematopoietic processes and improves hormonal levels.
Jewelry with a gem is recommended for pregnant women. This will have a beneficial effect on the course of pregnancy and will facilitate the birth process.
Garnet - who is suitable according to the zodiac sign
Red garnet is a stone of the element of fire, and it is known to be incompatible with the element of water, so it is not recommended for representatives of the zodiac circle, such as Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces .
But there are no strict rules about benefits and harm; on the contrary, the jewelry may suit these people according to other criteria. For example, for Pisces born at 21.02, the mineral will become a good amulet. Since pomegranate is the patron saint of this day.
In addition , pomegranate will bring good luck in love and material well-being to Pisces
If you bought a garnet after another person, the stone will take time to get used to you. Treat him kindly, and the alien energy will dissipate within a few days.
Garnet receives energy charges
In general, books rarely contain information about the incompatibility of a gemstone with humans or other minerals, but here is what can be said for sure about contraindications: do not wear a crystal that has cracked when worn, as it has “taken a hit.”
You should also not wear stones obtained by fraud, but even if the previous owner or seller simply unknowingly parted with the item, for example, sold it for next to nothing due to extreme necessity, jewelry with garnet will remember the previous owner for a long time.
The magical abilities of the mineral
The magical properties of garnet stone deserve special attention, as they have a direct impact on the energy of its owner. Esotericists and magicians describe this mineral as a means of helping a person gain power over the people around him. In some countries, rings with red stones are very popular among unmarried girls. It is believed that a young lady whose finger is decorated with such jewelry will be able to easily meet her soulmate and experience happiness in love. Black garnet allegedly allows you to influence the consciousness of other people at a distance and communicate with representatives of the afterlife.
The garnet gemstone has powerful energy and is ideal as an amulet for an active, passionate, sociable person who works with full dedication. It will give its owner happiness, luck and success, protect him from troubles and help him find the right way out of difficult situations. But magic does not advise people who are lazy, indecisive and lacking initiative to wear items with pomegranate. The mineral endowed with strong energy will exhaust them and lead to physical and nervous exhaustion.
When using a stone for magical purposes, a person needs to pay attention to its color: a red garnet will help its owner find peace of mind, become calm, attentive and reasonable. The green mineral has a positive effect on those whose strong point is not punctuality. He will teach them how to manage time correctly and thereby increase their authority in society.
Regardless of color, garnet stone will have a beneficial effect on the lives of creative people. It will energize writers, composers, artists and sculptors and inspire them to create new masterpieces.
Jewelry with garnet should not be worn daily, as constant bodily contact with the stone can lead to loss of strength. If a person begins to have problems sleeping, or he simply wants to rest, he needs to give up pomegranate jewelry for several days, hiding it in a dark place.
Particular impact on women
Garnet for Scorpio , as stated in the book “Talismans and Fates,” is a talisman stone for pregnant women, gives them strength and promotes a favorable birth.
The garnet stone for the Sagittarius serves as a talisman against adversity: accidents, natural disasters, the evil eye, and even protects against love spells. The talisman promotes career growth, improves relationships in the team, and helps win the favor of management. This will bring recognition and power.
Garnet for Libra is a stone of love and strength of marital ties. If you give your beloved a red crystal, then even after breaking up you will meet again.
For a woman born under the sign of Aries , a garnet stone will speed up a meeting with the right man or strengthen marriage relationships. With this mineral it will be easier to be in harmony with yourself.
Garnet is also a talisman stone for Capricorns, which serves as an assistant in love relationships, maintains family harmony and attracts the attention of men.
Zodiac compatibility
Pomegranate is unique in that its varieties belong to different elements, therefore, they are suitable for many zodiac signs. For example, red varieties are recommended for fire signs - Leo, Capricorn, Sagittarius. But it is not advisable for water signs to buy this stone.
In the table you can see the compatibility of pomegranate according to the horoscope.
Change
| Zodiac sign | compatibility (“+++” – high, “++” – normal, “+” – acceptable to wear, “–” – unacceptable to wear) | impact of pomegranate |
| Capricorn | +++ | fills with energy, helps in career and love relationships, relieves stiffness and isolation |
| Aquarius | + | helps to achieve constancy in love, increase communication skills, wearing the stone is recommended only for rational and purposeful representatives of the sign |
| Fish | + | relieves stress and depression |
| Aries | + | gives rationality to thinking |
| Taurus | — | Only men of this zodiac sign can wear a pomegranate to replenish mental strength |
| Twins | + | gives the energy necessary for self-improvement, eliminates the inconstancy characteristic of the sign |
| Cancer | — | contradicts the dreamy, detached, unpassionate nature of people of this sign, and can drive them into depression |
| a lion | +++ | helps to achieve success and respect in the business sphere, to establish contacts with employees |
| Virgo | + | makes love relationships harmonious |
| Scales | + | gives confidence and perseverance |
| Scorpion | +++ | improves character, eliminates jealousy and moral contradictions, makes love relationships more passionate |
| Sagittarius | +++ | enhances love passion, protects against negativity, helps in everyday situations |
Talismans and amulets
Pomegranate talismans are still popular today and are bought for the same reasons they were hundreds of years ago.
- Travelers and people whose activities involve frequent travel in order to stay on track and avoid danger.
- People of military and law enforcement professions to protect their lives.
- Politicians and businessmen can more easily achieve their goals.
- The patronage of the pomegranate can be ensured if the person has good intentions, is honest and kind. Otherwise, the stone will not help, but may ruin all plans.
- People of creative professions should not lose inspiration and create.
- Young girls to meet unearthly love and get married as soon as possible.
- Married couples to maintain the fidelity of their spouse and rekindle the extinguished flame of passion.
The strongest patronage of pomegranates is given to men with the names Anton, Nikita and Vasily, as well as women with the names Alexandra and Alla, Valeria and Galina, Lyudmila, Maria and Tamara.
Products and decorations made of pomegranate
Garnets are beautiful both in their pure form and mounted in gold or silver. Jewelry with them can be found on the shelf of any decent jewelry store. Gold is used as a setting for high-quality stones, silver is used for gems that are worse, but also of jewelry value.
This is interesting!
Pomegranate has been popular at all times:
- It was used to decorate palaces, the clothes of monarchs and courtiers.
- The great master Faberge used garnet for decoration in almost all of his products. He gave particular preference to the green variety, but did not deprive the red one of his attention.
- The famous German writer I. V. Goethe, being at a respectable age (72 years), gave his eighteen-year-old lover Theodora Ulrike Sophia von Levetzow a luxurious garnet set of 6 items (2 bracelets, a brooch, earrings, a necklace and a ring). 460 magnificent stones were used in its creation, the largest of which was more than 12 millimeters in diameter.
- One of the largest garnets, weighing 468.5 carats, found on the planet, adorns the Saxon Order of the Golden Fleece. Next to it are smaller garnets and diamonds. By the way, there are only two larger stones - a gem weighing 633.4 carats (pigeon egg) and another weighing 700 carats.
All of these legendary jewelry are now in museums or private collections and are incredibly expensive. And you can buy modern jewelry with garnets in any jewelry store at a very affordable price:
- Gold pendants and pendants for 70-500 dollars, earrings for 85-750, rings for 70-450, bracelet for 300-1000 dollars.
- Silver rings for 20-40 dollars, earrings for 30-50, bracelets for 35-60 dollars.
How to distinguish a fake?
Although the cost of natural stone is not very high, the use of a synthetic analogue or simple glass is often passed off as natural garnet. The synthesis of this mineral began at the beginning of the last century, and initially the artificial stone was intended for industrial use.
It is very difficult to distinguish between high-quality artificial and natural garnet, because the basic physical properties of the stones are similar: density, shine, hardness. However, there are several factors that can help you spot a fake when purchasing jewelry:
- You can distinguish a limestone garnet by rubbing it on a woolen cloth: a natural garnet will become electrified, attracting hair or other light particles, but an artificial one will not.
- Synthetic fakes have bright, unnatural colors and uniform coloring.
- There are no large specimens of pomegranate in nature.
Features of counterfeit detection
Natural and artificial garnets have approximately the same price, so sellers in most cases honestly indicate the characteristics of the stones. However, there are a number of parameters that help distinguish a natural mineral. If such a crystal is rubbed, it becomes electrified. This is not typical for synthetic analogues.
Natural garnet has a heterogeneous color.
If you examine the specimen through a magnifying glass, you can see that natural garnet is less bright and has a non-uniform color. The large size of the gem also indicates its artificial origin. Specimens larger than a coffee bean are rarely found in nature.
Citales, i.e. glass crystals, and plastic fakes must be held in your hand to be distinguished from a natural mineral. They heat up quickly.
