[Jewelry making - Article 00357] - Re: [Orchid] What is rainbow Garnet?

[Steve Green]

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    "Rainbow garnet" was  brought to market about 10 or 12 years ago. 
    Although previously known, it never made it into main-stream before
    and  remains relatively unkown still.  Mostly due to very low supply
    of  quality goods. This could change though. 

    It is an andradite garnet from Mexico...Sonora I believe. Generally
    it  is opaque to transluscent grayish green-olive. The better stones
    will  show a rainbow of colors due to interference phenomenon (like
    oil on  water). They often exhibit a patchy mosaic pattern of
    "rainbow" colors and are  truly unique and different than anything
    else in the gem world. 

    Cutting this gem requires a skilled eye to remove material that
    hides  the "rainbow" layer similar to a fire agate in cutting
    principals. If the cutter goes too far the "rainbow" layer can be cut
    through or  removed entirely. 

    This garnet may sometimes have 4 ray stars too. Not many top quality
     stones were ever found. The best ones brought thousands of dollars
    and  were never much over 5cts or so. There were very few of this
    quality.  They were truly unique and beautiful. Most have faint to
    medium  "rainbow" intensity  and are not very marketable. 

    If there were ever a larger supply of high quality "rainbow" garnets
     this would be a major gemstone and big business. 

    The same deposit also produced some clear transparent stones that 
    qualify to be called Demantoid, although not the best color.  

Hope this helps,    Steve Green

Rough and Ready Gems, Inc.   
www.briolettes.com   your briolette specialist 

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