Natural Rhodolite Garnet
Rhodolite is a garnet ((Mg,Fe)3Al2(SiO4)3) that sits between pyrope and almandine, a natural blend of the two. Its color is a rose to purplish red with a raspberry-like glow, noticeably lighter and more vivid than the brownish red of typical pyrope or the brick red of almandine. With a Mohs hardness of 7 to 7.5 it is a solid, dependable stone for everyday wear.
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Gemstone guide
Natural Rhodolite Garnet
About rhodolite
The name comes from the Greek rhodon, rose, a nod to the pinkish cast within the red. Rhodolite was first described from North Carolina in the late nineteenth century, and today most of it comes from East Africa, including Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique and Madagascar, as well as Sri Lanka and India. Garnet is the birthstone for January, and rhodolite is one of its brightest and most popular varieties. It is rarely treated.
What you'll find in this collection
Our rhodolite comes from Africa, Madagascar, Tanzania and Mozambique, and all stones are untreated. You'll find faceted ovals, pears, trillions and rounds, plus the occasional cabochon, from about 0.7 to over 7 carats, in raspberry red to purplish tones.
How to recognise rhodolite
Like all garnets, rhodolite is singly refractive, so it shows no pleochroism: the color looks the same from every direction, unlike ruby, which changes between purplish and orangy red. It is often very clean to the eye, and under magnification it can show fine needles or small rounded crystals. Its refractive index of about 1.76 gives it a bright, lively sparkle when well cut.
Caring for rhodolite
Rhodolite has no cleavage and wears well in rings, pendants and earrings. Clean it with warm soapy water and a soft brush. Avoid sudden temperature changes and steam cleaning, which can stress any stone with inclusions.
Every stone is natural, and each listing gives its weight, size, origin and treatment, with photos of the actual stone.