About Rhodolite
Rhodolite Garnet. All garnets (not just red) are birthstones for the month of January. North American Indians used red garnets as bullets, believing that they would seek blood and inflict a deadlier wound. Christians believed garnet symbolized Christ's sacrifice; Islamics believed it illuminated the fourth heaven. Garnets were thought to stop bleeding, cure inflammatory diseases, and smooth discord. Rhodolite Garnet comes from the Greek words rhodon, meaning "rose," and lithos, meaning "stone."
Rhodolite is a purplish red variety of garnet that has been used since ancient times. The name rhodolite is Greek, meaning rose stone. During the Middle Ages, the stone was regarded as a gem of faith, truth and constancy. All garnets have been associated with blood related topics, such as remedies for hemorrhages. Asiatic tribes fashioned bullets out of garnets, instead of lead, as they believed the garnet bullets were more deadly. As late as 1892, the Hanzas used garnet bullets against British troops.
Rhodolite Physical Properties
Refractive Index 1.76
Hardness = 7-7.5 (Moh's Scale)
Specific Gravity =3.84
Species - Rhodolite
Optic Character - Single Refraction.
Phenomena - None.
Rhodolite Care and Cleaning
WARNINGS FOR CARE
Ultrasonic: Usually safe
Steamer: Risky
Heat: Fair-poor; temperature changes may
cause fracturing
Chemicals that harm: Hydrofluoric acid
The Rainbow Family
The garnet is a family of gems rather than a single gemstone. Most garnets are readily available in fine qualities, so a wide selection is available at affordable prices.
Best known among the garnets are the deep red almandine and pyrope garnets. The almandine is what most people think of when garnet is mentioned. It is a dark, slightly brownish or violetish-red. The pyrope tends to have less brown in it. Fine quality pyrope may be confused with a dark ruby, but medium quality looks much like almandine.
A garnet that has become increasingly favored in recent years is the rhodolite. Its lively violetish-red calls to mind a light-filled glass of rose wine. It may resemble a violetish ruby or a plum sapphire.
The rhodolite was widely used in Greece during the period between the reign of Alexander the Great and the conquest of Rome. Alexander had just popularized the cutting of cameos from precious stones, and this gem lent itself well to the task. Engravers gave these cameos a flat base and a convex top in which they etched their designs. This was the forerunner of the popular cabochon (dome-shaped) cut still popular today. Garnet Picture pessartite takes one into the oranges from tangerine to cinnamon. The bright golden or burnished hessonite is a popular variety.
In the late '60s a new garnet was discovered which made green an important garnet color. This is the tsavorite, named after the Tsavo region of Africa. Its color may resemble a sunlit meadow or the finest emerald. The increasing scarcity of fine emerald has contributed to its importance.
The very rare demantoid variety of andradite is an emerald green with diamond-like fire. Uvarovite garnet may also be emerald green, but it is found only in tiny sizes.
Continuing its masquerade of the world's most precious gemstones is a translucent green grossularite which resembles fine jade.
Wide Appeal
Within the diversified garnet family is something for everyone. Deep red, cabochon-cut garnets are often set into men's rings, tie tacks and cuff links. Surrounded by a bold expanse of gold, they are important enough for every well-dressed businessman and elegant enough to make the transition into evening wear. The color dramatically accents grey, black, navy, camel and rust. It complements tweeds as easily as it does gabardines.
Garnets are a basic for the businesswoman's wardrobe. Garnets of all colors are fashioned into rings, pendants, pins and earrings. Red and violet garnets are often strung into beads to be worn alone or in combination with pearls or gold beads.
Garnets are also smart for any social occasion. Designs range from delicate accents to jeweled masterpieces. A large garnet set with diamonds is perfectly comfortable at the most glamorous affairs.
Garnet is a favorite in children's jewelry. It is set into dainty swirls, hearts and roses for rings, pendants and earrings. It is often chosen as the starter piece in a young girl's collection.
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