The garnet family is extensive and each variation differs vastly in colour, chemical make up and price. These are some of the variations: Spessartine, Almandine, Uvarovite, Hessonite, Tsavorite and Andradite.

The blood-red colour of pyrope is due to its iron and chromium content. It rarely has inclusions, but when present they are rounded crystals or have irregular outlines. As with all garnets, pyrope has no cleavage, and fracture is subconchoidal to uneven.

The pyrope has been used for thousands of years and were particularly fashionable during the Victorian era. Garnets have been valued as a sacred stone by the Native American Indians, the South American Indians, the Aztecs, the African tribal elders and the Mayans. Statues of Isis, the Egyptian nature goddess, often included garnets in her ceremonial belt, probably representing her blood and her power.

Garnet is the birthstone for January, symbolising constancy, and the zodiac gem for Aquarius (21 January to 18 February)

Crystal Structure:  Cubic
Composition:  Magnesium aluminium silicate
Hardness:  7.25

Metaphysical Properties:  The pyrope garnet provides for a connection between the grounding force of the base chakra and the opening to the inner wisdom associated with the crown chakra. It is a general stabiliser and does not usually project itself further than the psychic body.
It stimulates warmth and gentleness, assisting one in the unification with the creative forces of the self. It further helps one toward the actualisation of experiencing the great spiral reaching from the centre of the self to the outer layers of consciousness.
It can be used in the treatment of disorders of the digestive and elimination systems. It has been used to dispel heartburn, to soothe the throat, and to induce vitality in the infirm. It has also been used as an elixir to protect and to soothe the skin.

Occurrence:  Pyrope is found in volcanic rock and alluvial deposits, and may, along with certain other minerals, indicate the presence of diamond bearing rocks. Localities include Arizona, South Africa, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Burma, Scotland, Switzerland and Tanzania.

Remark:  Pyrope comes from the Greek ‘pyropos’, meaning fiery. Swiss and South African pyropes are lighter red than stones from Bohemia, where pyrope jewellery has been made for over 500 years.