Rhodolite garnet is a reputable and typical garnet gemstone. It is created by combining the elements magnesia garnet and almandine. The burgundy color, which combines purple and red, is quite popular.
Bright purple garnets have been gradually extracted and sold at high prices in the rhodolite market in recent years. The following will go into detail about the origin, value, qualities, and significance.
Properties of Gems
Name | Rhodolite Garnet |
---|---|
Japanese Name | 薔薇柘榴石(Barazakuroishi |
Color | Lavender pink, Rose Red, Wine Red, Purple |
Family (species, varieties) | Garnet, Almandine, Pyrope Almandine Garnet, Spessartine, Grossularite, Andradite, Uvarovite, Demantoid, Green Grossular Garnet ( Tsavorite) Cinnamon Stone. |
Moh’s Hardness | 7-7.5 |
Polish Lustre | Glass Luster |
Chemical Composition | (Mg,Fe) 3 Al 2 (SiO 4 ) 3 |
Crystallography | Isometric crystal system |
Birthstone | January(All Garnet) |
Allegorical symbol
Victory, chastity, unswerving love, proof of friendship, bloom and bear fruit
Symbol
Winning, unwavering belief, fruitful life
Country & Place of Origin
• United States : North Carolina
• Tanzania : Unba
• India: Orissa
• Malawi: The whole territory
• Mozambique: The whole territory
• Brazil: The whole territory
• Sri Lanka: The whole territory
• Norway: The whole territory
Features and characteristics
Origin of the name
Rhodolite has a lovely rose tint that distinguishes it from other red garnets. The English name is derived from the Greek word “Rhodon” and the mineral “Lite”.
The history of Rhodolite
Rhodolite was discovered in 1882 in North Carolina, USA, and was mined until the veins were depleted in 1902. After roughly 60 years, a huge deposit was discovered in Tanzania’s Omba Valley in 1964, and fine-quality rough stones were also mined in Sri Lanka and India. It has been maintained on a vast scale of mining since then.
Rhodolite is a mineral that is composed of silicates. It is created by combining Pyrop and Almandine components from the aluminum series (Pyralspite, red garnet). This is the gem’s commercial name. (※1). Rose garnets are distinct from reddish-brown aldolite and deep red almandine, despite the fact that they are both red garnets. The vibrant red and purple color scheme is a standout element. Purple rhodolite has just been identified and has begun to circulate in a few marketplaces.
Rhodolite and Pyrope Almandine Garnet
Rhodolite garnet is a solid solution of pyrope Almandine Garnet, but certain gems with the same composition are named Pyrope Almandine Garnet rather than Rhodolite Garnet.
Rhodolite’s composition is not uniform. The greater the pyrope almandine garnet content, the brighter the wine red hue, whereas the higher the almandine garnet composition, the darker the reddish brown color. This is because almandine contains more iron ions, and because ore with greater almandine has essentially no gem value, it is known as pyrope almandine garnet rather than rhodolite.
Purple Rhodolite
The purple rhodolite has a stunning purple tint known as “Royal Purple.” It has become well-known in recent years for its gem purchasing. It is renowned as the home of gemstone commerce, and the world-famous Tucson mineral has been displayed in the United States, becoming a popular topic among gem aficionados. This purple garnet first appeared in the Bangkok market in early 2016 under the name “Purple Garnet” and was later evaluated by the GIA Research Institute (Bangkok) to verify that it is Rhodolite. The study performed by the Bangkok Research Institute revealed that it is Rhodolite. Malaysia currently has a minimal number of circulations.
Maintenance of Rhodolite
Wipe carefully with a soft cloth, such as wool, immediately after wearing it for daily maintenance. If wiping alone does not remove oil and sweat, causing the jewelry to look as a coating of water mist, soak the jewelry in a diluted neutral dish detergent and gently scrub with a soft brush. Rhodolite has a strong texture, so this kind of care will not leave scars. However, if the cleaning chemical is accidentally left on the jewelry, it may cause it to fog. As a result, instead of standing immediately after cleaning, fully rinse the cleaning chemical with running water. Furthermore, if the setting is not strong enough, it will occasionally fall off, so please be careful when washing to avoid the gemstone coming off into the drain. It is recommended to use a dry cloth to absorb moisture after cleaning, to prevent direct sunlight, to store in a cool place, and to store it separately from other stones (scratches may be created by friction due to hardness).
※1 (Commercial name): It is not a colloquial gem or mineral name, but rather a business term.
※2 “Solid solution”: refers to an individual composed of two or more elements, each of which has the same composition and consistent quality.
Value
Rhodolite garnet is a lovely burgundy colored gemstone. It is extensively available and well-liked in the market. It is considered the best protagonist in the garnet family. Because of the extensive mining, the price is only slightly higher than that of brown almandine, which is both reasonable and easy to obtain. As a result, the market is flooded with silver jewelry and energy stones.
Furthermore, rhodolite has a distinct color and luster, as well as a balanced beauty. Rhodolite is popular for jewelry material. Rhodolite with good texture or heavy weight is very valuable, and the made jewelry is also very popular.
Value Standard
Rich and brilliant red-purple rhodolite garnet with no blended brown or other colors and exceptional transparency. Whether the gem is huge or small, some of the colors are reasonably priced, and amateurs can readily collect them.
The majority of the 2 to 3 carats of rhodolite are easily purchased, but there are other products with a price of up to RM 1,000 or even higher, which can be considered gems with significant price variations. And if it is similar to other jewels, with nice texture and weight, 8 to 10 carats might fetch as much as RM 1,000. As a result, when determining the worth of jewelry, the carat (ct) and size (mm) should be considered should be taken into consideration.
Furthermore, although being rhodolite garnet, purple rhodolite is exceedingly rare and vivid, thus the price is significantly higher than that of burgundy rhodolite of the same quality.