Garnet discrimination method

How to identify genuine garnet: Garnet is one of the rarest gemstones in the market, and there are very few imitations. It’s relatively easy to distinguish real from fake. Here are four key points to consider when identifying garnet:

1. If the color of the garnet is overly bright and extremely clear, and the price seems too good to be true, it might not be real. Genuine garnets usually have a more natural appearance rather than an artificial shine.

2. Check for inclusions such as "cotton-like" impurities or black spots. Garnets often contain small black specks or ice-like cracks, which are natural features.

3. Garnet is heavier than most other crystals. When you hold it in your hand, if it feels lighter than a typical crystal like quartz, it could be a sign of an imitation.

4. Real garnet has a smooth, slightly oily texture. It feels slippery and cool to the touch, unlike the cold, glassy feel of synthetic stones or other crystals.

Garnet can sometimes be confused with other gemstones like rubies and red spinels. Rubies are typically dichroic, show chromium absorption lines, and may exhibit fluorescence. They also have needle-like inclusions that form a 120-degree angle. Red spinel, on the other hand, has a lower refractive index, shows fluorescence, and often contains octahedral inclusions.

Garnet is homogeneous and does not display dichroism. Under a Charles filter, it doesn’t show any reaction, and it may contain horsetail-like inclusions. Another variety, water calcium aluminum garnet, has a bright green color similar to jade. It often has black spots and a refractive index of around 1.73. Unlike jade, it lacks characteristic absorption bands in the red spectrum.