Vintage garnet rings and other unique pieces of garnet jewelry have been around for a long time.
Garnets — a beautiful stone whose deep pomegranate hue is beloved by gem connoisseurs around the globe — 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, colored gemstones like garnets, rubies and sapphires, were widely used in Georgian rings and other Georgian jewelry alongside pearls. Later, garnets were fairly ubiquitous in Victorian jewelry. With respect to the latter, Romantic period jewelry was a celebration of the young monarch’s love, and the era's REGARD and DEAREST rings were particularly popular. 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.
While red garnets are the most popular, garnets actually come in a medley of colors, and as is the case with all loose gemstones, a handful of garnets make a great gift for those looking to make their own jewelry. Will it be made into a cocktail ring? A garnet cluster ring? The fun part is creating a bespoke design.
Find a collection of antique and vintage garnet rings for sale on 1stDibs.
