Garnets are a group of related species. The following are all in the garnet group:

Almandite Garnet:
The most common garnet and generally the least expensive. They was used at the turn of the century, fused to a glass base to form a doublet. Almandite garnets are typically dark in tone and purplish red in color. It has a brilliant luster but it's transparency is often marred, and often cut into a cabochon.

Rhodolite Garnet:
Rhodolite is actually a mixture of almandite and pyrope garnets. It must have some purple color to be considered a rhodolite. The name comes from the Greek word "rose". In the trade most people refer to any purple tone garnet as a rhodolite. The pinkish red color is its main characteristic, usually with good transparency and good luster. The rhodolite garnet is the most in demand of the reddish garnets.

Pyrope Garnet:
Pyrope garnet is generally more pure red than other garnets and can be confused with a ruby, due to its' fiery red color. The name pyrope is derived from "pyropos" meaning fire-like or fiery-eyed. In the trade, pyrope may be referred to as Bohemian garnet, from its historical source Czechoslovakia.

Spessartite Garnet:
Spessartite must have some orange color. Its color may range from a yellowish-orange to a reddish-orange. Limited quantities are available, although very unfamiliar to most. Many people do not realize that garnets come in many colors other than red.

Malaia Garnet:
Malaia garnets consist primarily of a mixture in the chemical composition of pyrope and spessartite garnets. They range in color from light to dark pinkish orange, reddish orange to yellowish orange. Quantities are limited and unfamiliar to most.

Grossularite Garnet:
Grossularite is a mineral species belonging to the garnet group. Two varieties are Tsavorite and Hessonite.

A.) Tsavorite Garnet:
Tsavorite is colored by vanadium with traces of chromium, and ranges from an intense green to yellowish green color. It became commercially available in the 1970's. It's major source is Kenya and Tanzania. It is considered very rare and if it is a good strong lively color, it will be in the top price bracket for colored gems, especially if weighing over a few carats. It is in demand by collectors.

B.) Hessonite Garnet:
Hessonite garnets are a medium to dark yellowish orange to reddish orange. They are known in the trade as the cinnamon stone. Its value is low compared to some other garnets due to it's color and "treacly" appearance. It mainly comes from Sri Lanka but is also found in the USA.

Hydrogrossular Garnet:
A green material with a variable water content, often with black inclusions of chromite or magnetite. Can be confused with jadite and idocrase.

Andradite Garnet:
A.) Demantiod Garnet:
The name demantoid comes from the German word "demant" meaning diamond due to it's high dispersion. The green color can vary from a very pale to a strong green often with good transparency and exceptional luster. Stones over one carat are uncommon and several carats are very rare, making it a very valuable colored gem. Due to it's weakening inclusions, the edges can be easily damaged. Found mainly in the Soviet Union.

Rubies

Sapphires

Emeralds

Pearls

Opals

Tanzanite