Pyrope
Pyrope Garnet
Pyrope Garnet is the most famous of the red garnets. Its dark, blood red color is distinct and attractive, often resembling the color of ruby. This gem is often found inclusion free. The impressive brilliance of pyrope garnet is due to it high refraction index. Pyrope comes from the Greek for "fiery". In the middle ages, garnet was also called "Karfunkel" in German, referring to the glowing red reminiscent of burning embers.In ancient times it was believed that garnets illuminated the night and prevented the wearer from evil.
Pyrope is sometimes referred to as "Bohemian Garnet" from its historical source in former Czechoslovakia. Pyrope was the European fashion stone of the 18th and 10th century. .
The excellent hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale and absence of cleavage makes pyrope garnet a very durable gem. Garnet is the January birthstone.
Pyrope Garnet colors
Pyrope garnet comes only in one color, a fiery and often slightly bronze colored red.
Buying Pyrope Garnet
Pyrope is magnesium aluminum garnet. Iron can substitute for the magnesium and become more like almandine, iron aluminum garnet. Pure pyrope and pure almandine are rare in nature and most specimens are a percentage of the two. The change in density from almandine (4.3) to pyrope (3.6) is the only good test to determine a specimen's likely identity.
Color
The expected dark red color is found in small sized stones. Bigger gems tend to turn very dark, coming close to black.