Welcome to the most informative, concise, and fun guide to garnets on the Internet. In the next fifteen minutes you can learn enough about these beautiful gemstones to shop with total confidence and peace of mind, or simply expand your colorful horizons.

Garnet is the gem of commitment and friendship. Records of its praises reach back to biblical lore, as it was the only source of light on Noah's Ark. Though misunderstood and often thought of as a low-priced red gemstone, the group of stones that make up the garnet family contain some of the most valuable gems in the world. And red is only the beginning. Garnet is available in more colors and varieties than almost any other gemstone. From green to purple to the unique mandarine orange, you will see colors in garnet that would make a ruby blush with envy. Prior to the 19th century, the main source of garnet was Czechoslovakia. In 1868, though, a vivid green variety was discovered in the mountains of Russia. Whether this source was depleted or the Russians simply closed the mines is open to debate. But somewhere around the beginning of the 20th century, these prized stones disappeared from the world market.

Now, from our Garnet Center Page, you can click on any subject you like and find out all the essentials to truly understanding this beautiful family of gemstones. We've even created a handy "Shopping checklist" that you can print out and take along with you on your exploration into the wonderful world of garnet.