Pyrope gemstone

Physical properties of pyrope

Characteristics of pyrope

The pyrope gemstone (carbuncle, lal, Mars stone, Colorado ruby, Arizona ruby, Cape ruby) is one of the most ancient gemstones known to people. True, the name pyrope arose much later, and earlier this stone had many other names - carbuncle (which in Latin means “smoldering ember”), lal (as all red stones were called in the old days), the stone of Mars (as it was called in ancient Rome), and many others (some more will be discussed below).

Now, pyropes are often called simply garnets, since these stones are really a variety of garnets, namely dark red garnets.

And the name "pyrope", given in 1803 by the German geologist A. Werner, the stone received for its color - from the Greek word "pyropos", which means "like a flame."

Pyrope is one of the finest and most popular gemstones. It has good hardness and is highly valued by jewelers, as it lends itself well to processing. It has a beautiful color - pinkish red, blood red, up to brown-black. By the way, one of the varieties of pink pyrope is known by its own name - rhodolite. This is one of the most beautiful gemstones.

There are pyropes with optical effects of asterism and a cat's eye (such pyropes are found in India and Sri Lanka). And transparent pyropes, with a rich ruby red color, are called noble garnet.

Czech pyropes are considered the best. Pyropes have been mined in the Czech Republic for a very long time and they are the national treasure of the country. Pyropes are also found in Russia, Mongolia, China, Italy, Africa, the USA, Brazil and Australia.

By the way, pyropes with a bright color are very similar to rubies. And very often they tried to pass off pyropes as rubies (since garnets are priced lower, with the exception of demantoid), from which such names of pyropes as the Cape ruby, Arizona ruby, Bohemian ruby or Colorado ruby appeared.

It should also be said that pyropes are often companions of diamonds, and, for example, it was thanks to pyropes that the first Yakut diamonds were discovered.

How much is pyrope

High quality transparent pyropes are highly valued - up to $300 per carat. However, these stones are rare. The usual price of pyrope is $50 - $150 per carat, depending on the quality. Opaque pyropes are priced very cheaply - $100 per beads.