Namibian Natural Red Pyrope Garnet in Quartz Specimen - 39mm, 30g

Garnet is not a single mineral, but a group of closely-related silicate minerals, including the varieties spessartine, almandine, pyrope, uvarovite, grossular and andradite. Throughout these varieties, garnet can be found in almost every colour, though most are typically red.

The mining and use of garnets in jewelry can be dated as far back as 3500BC, as it was discovered in a necklace uncovered in Egypt on the neck of a mummified body. Its name derives from the Latin word 'granatus', meaning 'pomegranate', in allusion to its shape which resemble pomegranate seeds. Myths and folklore about garnets can be found in Aztec, Roman, Egyptian and Native American cultures, and the gem has been treasured worldwide for thousands of years.