DEMANTOID GARNETS.

With a name that means "diamond-like" Demantoid Garnet is sure to outshine the competition. This fiery green Garnet started life as the darling of the Russian royalty. Discovered in Russia's Ural Mountains, it quickly became a favorite of Carl Fabergé and appeared in many of the pieces created for the Russian royalty. Word quickly spread about this new green gem with tremendous brilliance and soon it was being exported to Europe to adorn Victorian and Edwardian pieces of jewelry. After the First World War the sparkle of gems faded from a then communist Russia's mindset and this green star began to fade rapidly.

Appearing only sporadically in the market, Demantoid Garnet was soon considered only a collector's gemstone. Fast-forward to 1996 in Namibia where a chance encounter sparks the rediscovery of this gem. In recent years, the demand for Namibian Demantoid Garnet has in turn led Russia to reopen the mines in the Ural Mountains.

Demantoid Garnet comes in varying shades of green, from a lively light yellowish green to an intense blue-green. The real beauty of this gem is it's high dispersion; in other words, it's ability to split light into the spectral colors and create "fire". The Demantoid Garnet is a master at this, superior to even Diamond. One of the interesting and even valuable characteristics of this gem is a specific kind of inclusion, exclusive to Demantoid Garnet from Russia, known as a Horsetail inclusion. These golden feathery threads of byssolite and/or chrysotile are curved and radiate from a single point resembling the tail of a horse. The horsetail inclusion can substantially increase the value of the Demantoid Garnet if it is eye visible but not too overpowering as to affect the transparency of the gem.

Demantoid Garnet is one of the most brilliant and scintillating gems that exist; yet because of its scarcity and relatively small size (gems over 2 carats are rarely found) it will never achieve the status of Diamond or Sapphire. But that is all right with us at Coffin & Trout Fine Jewellers and all the other gem connoisseurs who enjoy having something unique and different. As you search for your own style, try 'going green' with Demantoid Garnet.

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