Garnet
A family of stones rather than one, running from deep red to green. Hessonite garnet is gomed, the stone of Rahu.
Garnet covers several related minerals: almandine and pyrope for the familiar deep reds, spessartine for orange, tsavorite and demantoid for green.
Tsavorite and demantoid are genuinely rare and expensive, which is why the semi-precious label sits oddly on the family.
Hessonite, the honey-brown to orange garnet, is gomed in Vedic astrology and is prescribed for Rahu.
When you are buying
Red garnet is one of the best value coloured stones there is, and it sits beautifully against cream and white pearls.
Pearls with garnet
11 pieces in the collection right now, from ₹3,750.
Trendy Pearl Necklace in Pearls and Rose Quartz
Dainty Peach Pearls With Purple Garnet Beads Necklace
Radiant 19 Inches White Pearls Necklace With SP Purple Garnet Beads
Luxurious 23 Inches White Pearls With Purple Garnet Beads Necklace
Striking Blue Pearl Necklace With Oxidized Polki Pendant & Grey Onyx
Spectacular 6mm White Semi-Round Pearls 19Inch Necklace With Victorian Pendant
Royal White Pearls Haar With CZ Peacock Pathakam
Regal Multirow Haar Featuring Off-White Pearls With Subtle Victorian Pendant
Navratna
A setting of nine gemstones, one for each of the nine planets in Vedic astrology, arranged in a fixed order.
Semi-Precious
A commercial label for every gemstone outside diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald. Not a measure of quality.
Gemstone
Any mineral or organic material cut for jewellery. Traditionally split into precious (diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald) and semi-precious.
Ruby
Red corundum, the second hardest gem after diamond. Manik in Hindi, and the stone of the Sun in Vedic astrology.