Rhodolite: the red garnet
Rhodolite is a type of garnet. Other stones in this group include demantoid, tsavorite, umbalite and spessartine. Rhodolite was first described in 1898. It was discovered in the Cowee Valley in North Carolina (USA).
A gemstone with a rose-red hue
Rhodolite owes its name to its red color. Rhodolite is Greek and means “rose stone”. Its colors are indeed reminiscent of red roses. The hues range from pink to brownish pink, crimson and violet pink. Pink rhodolites are occasionally referred to in the trade as raspberry rhodolite or raspberry garnet.
Some of these stones can be mistaken at first glance for other purple and red gemstones, such as rubies, amethysts or rubellites.
Origin: From North America to India
As already mentioned, rhodolite was discovered in North Carolina. Other deposits are found in Nigeria, Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, Sri Lanka and India.
Rhodolite for your collection or for individual jewelry
Rhodolite is relatively rare compared to other garnets. It is therefore particularly valued by collectors. But the beautiful red color also makes it popular for jewelry.
You can also use a rhodolite from the Igneous Gemstone Shop for individual pieces of jewelry. There are no limits to your creativity and that of your goldsmith.
This red gemstone is suitable for rings, necklaces and bracelets. Rings and small pendants can be additionally decorated with small diamonds. This highlights the beautiful red tones of the rhodolite. Depending on your preference, the setting can be made of silver, white, yellow or red gold.
According to the American Gem Society, garnet stones are the birthstones for the month of January. If you are looking for a piece of jewelry as a gift for someone born in January, a garnet is worth choosing. Garnet stones are available in many different colors. If the birthday child has a preference for purple-red gemstones, a rhodolite is definitely a good choice.
Properties:
As already mentioned, rhodolite is a garnet stone. Like its relatives, it also has a hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. The ten-level hardness scale was developed by Carl Friedrich Mohs specifically for minerals. The softest mineral is talc, with a hardness of one. The diamond is the hardest known gemstone, with a hardness of 10.
Most common cuts: facet cuts in various shapes
Pure rhodolites are usually faceted. The facet cut emphasizes the purity and color of a precious stone. In addition to round and oval cuts, rhodolites are also available in heart, princess, octagon or pear cuts.
The smooth cabochon cut is usually used for cloudy stones.
