It is not clear whether the word “garnet” comes from the middle English word “gernet” which means red, or from the Latin word “grenatus” as in pomegranate, a word that means “grains” in general. The latter seems more probable when you look at red garnet crystals which often bear an uncanny resemblance to ripe red pomogranate seeds.

Nevertheless, garnets actually exist in several colours apart from shades of red. There are yellow and orange garnets, green, purple, black and even colourless garnets. Of these, the most popular gem garnets are the dark red Almandines, referred to in earlier times as Carbuncle.

Next in popularity are the lush green Tsavorites, and the rare, bright green Uvarovite. In all cases, garnets have been popular as gemstones as well as abrasives right since the bronze age, and have been prized treasures of the ancient Egyptians and the Sumerians. Garnets have been popular in Roman gold inlay work, and even today, gemstone quality garnets are very popular as fashion jewellery.