How to Buy Garnet Jewelry

Diamonds might be a girl's best friend, but garnets have their own seductive powers. Available in shades of red, pink, purple, orange, yellow, brown and even black, this gemstone has a powerful luster. Garnet jewelry is a good "passion gift," a token of ardor to give to your lover. It's also a must-have for January babies, since the garnet is their birthstone. Just make sure you choose a quality stone. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Decide what kind of garnet you want to buy. The most popular, affordable red garnet is pyrope. You also might like rhodolite, a dark pink or red stone, or spessartite, which is red with orange or brown splashes. Rare, expensive stones include the peachy-orange umbalite, bright orange mandarine, chartreuse mali, and the green garnets tsavorite and demantoid.
2. Consider the "4 C's," just as you would when diamond shopping. These include cut, clarity, carats and cost. You can choose garnets in a wide array of cuts, and carat size can go up to 10 carats. High quality garnets should have almost perfect clarity, except for demantoids, which come with inclusions.
3. Shop at fine jewelers to get an idea of what designs you prefer. You'll not find garnets at Tiffany, but most other upscale jewelers have a selection. If you prefer to shop at a chain, Bailey, Banks and Biddle has a large variety of garnet jewelery. Or check out a local, independently owned jeweler for a fresh selection.
4. Decide on a price range and then narrow down your choices. The larger the carat and the rarer the stone, the more you can expect to spend--yet where you buy your garnet plays a big factor, too. You can find a large, rare, perfectly cut garnet at a jeweler's market where numerous jewelers set up stalls, or pay a lot for something smaller at a brand-name boutique.
5. Negotiate to get the best price, if what you want is available at more than one jewelry store. Bring quotes from one jeweler to another to see if they can beat the price. Boutiques most likely will negotiate, so if you've fallen in love with garnet jewelry at a small, specialty shop, the price you quote is probably the price you'll pay.

Tips & Warnings

• Be cautious when buying garnet jewelry off eBay. Only purchase from trusted sellers with positive feedback.