Interesting Facts About Blue Garnet
Did you know that the Blue Garnet is considered one of the rarest gemstones in the world? It was discovered in Madagascar in the late 1990s01. These gemstones are also known as “color-shifters”. This color-shifting ability is due to the high amounts of vanadium in its composition. It looks like a greenish-blue stone in daylight, then it transforms into a vivid purplish-red stone under incandescent light02. This color-changing phenomenon was believed to be impossible for the garnet family, yet the blue garnet exudes such ability03.
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Where Blue Garnet Comes From
For centuries, it was once believed by gemologists that garnet was found in every color except blue04. However, it was debunked when the gemstone was found in 1998 in the Bekily region of Madagascar. These stones were unearthed by local miners05. This, in effect, became a sensation for their exceptional rarity and high-quality color-changing properties.
Blue garnet has a composition of pyrope and spessartine. High amounts of vanadium (and sometimes chromium) account for its unique blue color06. The most exceptional quality of blue garnet pertains to its color-changing ability. In broad daylight, the stone appears as a crisp greenish-blue, grey-blue, or teal hue07; whereas under incandescent light, the stone transforms to a vivid raspberry-pink or purplish-red color08. This color-changing ability is sharp enough that it rivals Alexandrite.
The gemstone is unearthed primarily in the Bekily region in Madagascar. This location remains the “gold standard” among its sources. However, the sources of the gemstones are largely depleted, which makes it exceptionally rare09. In other locations, smaller quantities of blue garnet are discovered. These locations include the Umba Valley of Tanzania10, the Taita Taveta District in Kenya11, Sri Lanka12, and in Russia and Turkey (in very rare occurrences)13.
How Blue Garnet are Processed
Blue garnets are natural gemstones. These stones cannot be replicated synthetically nor be grown in laboratories. Their processing involves multiple steps in order to be preserved. The first step is extraction. This involves the careful extraction of the rough stones from alluvial deposits or metamorphic rocks by miners. This is often done by hand in order to prevent damaging the brittle crystals14. The second step is orientation. A lapidary studies the stone’s color-changing abilities (or pleochrism) before cutting. Orientation is important to ensure that the blue-to-red color shift is maximized when viewed from the top15. The third step is faceting. The stones, upon orientation, undergo precision cutting into shapes like rounds or ovals to retain the most “face-up” weight16. Compared to other gemstones, blue garnets are never heat-treated or irradiated because chemicals or heat can ruin their unique color-changing chemical composition.
How Expensive and Rare Blue Garnets Are
Blue garnets are expensive due to their exceptional scarcity and high demand. This gemstone was once believed to be impossible, as almost all garnets exude different colors except blue. It was only in 1998 that blue garnets were discovered17. Furthermore, large amounts of blue garnets are rare to find because the primary deposits are nearly depleted. With this, most specimens under one carat are highly rare and extremely valuable. Another factor to consider for its price is that it is the only garnet variant to exude color-changing properties18. This heightens its value even more.
Famous Jewelry Made from Blue Garnet Gemstones
Notable blue garnet jewelry pieces are highly rare. They are often custom-made to preserve the stone’s small carat weight. Some of the exceptional jewelry pieces include:
- Color-Change Solitaires – These are minimalist platinum rings with blue garnets as adornment. They let light hit the stone from all angles, thereby showcasing the blue-to-red color shift19.
- Bespoke “Toi et Moi” Rings – Blue garnets are paired with a diamond or sapphire for contrast of their unique color20.
- Antique Art Nouveau Pieces – Rare early 20th-century necklaces feature blue garnets in their pieces21.
Blue Garnet’s Market Value (Price per Carat)
The price of blue garnet varies depending on its size and other factors. High-quality blue garnets have a price of $1,500 to $5,000 per carat22. As for rare specimens over one carat with distinct blue-to-red color properties, their prices are higher, with around $1.5 million per carat. More specifically, a 4.2-carat blue garnet was sold for $6.8 million in 200323.
