On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate garnet carbuncle for your needs in our varied inventory. Every item for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using
Gold,
15k Gold and
18k Gold. Making the right choice when shopping for a garnet carbuncle may mean carefully reviewing examples of this item dating from different eras — you can find an early iteration of this piece from the 19th Century and a newer version made as recently as the 19th Century, both of which have proven very popular over the years. A garnet carbuncle can make for a versatile accessory, but a selection from our variety of 9
Garnet versions can add an especially stylish touch. Today, if you’re looking for a
cabochon version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes alternatives. There aren’t many items for
men if you’re seeking a garnet carbuncle, as most of the options available are for
women and unisex.
Prices for a garnet carbuncle can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $775 and can go as high as $8,000, while this accessory, on average, fetches $2,150.
Vintage and antique garnet jewelry has been around for a long time.
Garnets have been used for adornment going all the way back to the Bronze Age. While we will never know if garnets can be used to prevent plagues or heal warriors, as has been suggested, we do know that both the Egyptians and the Romans felt that it was a worthy stone to set in gold for their nobility. In more “recent” times, garnets were ubiquitous in Victorian jewelry. The “G” in REGARD rings, the equivalent of the modern-day engagement ring, implied garnet.
Garnets were also highly valued in the region of Bohemia. The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History has in its collection an antique hairpin with Bohemian pyrope garnets from the Czech Republic. Bohemian pyrope got its name from Bohuslav Balbín, sometimes referred to as the “Czech Pliny,” in 1679. Abundant in the region, it was used often in jewelry during this time. In fact, it became so popular that in 1762, Empress Marie Terezie forbade its export. Stonecutting workshops opened in several regions across Bohemia, and pyrope became the country’s mineralogical symbol. While there was never a decline in its popularity, it was only in the mid-20th century that garnets enjoyed a revival.
Garnets can come in many shapes and sizes — one of the largest ever discovered is a 68.82-carat Tsavorite garnet. This stone is also in the collection of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.
According to the Gemological Institute of America, Brazil’s mines are rich in garnets, including spessartine, which can also be found in the Myanmar area, recognized for a specific shade of reddish-orange. While red garnets are the most popular, garnets actually come in a medley of colors.
Find a collection of antique and vintage garnet rings, necklaces and other jewelry today on 1stDibs.