Hardness of garnet varieties

[Double E]

Tried to look it up online but only confused or contradictory info found. What are the hardness of various garnet species especially Spess, grossular, tsavorite, demantoid, peridot?

 

[T L]

Peridot isn’t a garnet. It’s a mineral called olivine.

I believe they’re all around 7, except demantoid, which is 6.5, but I could be wrong.

 

[Double E]

Peridot isn’t a garnet. It’s a mineral called olivine.

I believe they’re all around 7, except demantoid, which is 6.5, but I could be wrong.

Thanks~ Don’t know where it comes that impression of peridot being garnet… never mind, appreciate correcting me!

 

[T L]

Thanks~ Don’t know where it comes that impression of peridot being garnet… never mind, appreciate correcting me!

No problem. Garnets are also pretty durable, so wear them and enjoy!

 

[Double E]

Further looked it up, it is said that spess and mali garnets are a lightly bit harder than the rest. Is it the case?

I am looking into relatively more durable varieties, and the possibility to add them into the collection for my wife.

 

[Double E]

And demantoid, highly dispersing, but I guess this shows better in lighter colour and saturation only. Together with their softness and higher price tag, it may not be an ideal addition for us.

 

[T L]

And demantoid, highly dispersing, but I guess this shows better in lighter colour and saturation only. Together with their softness and higher price tag, it may not be an ideal addition for us.

Having owned several kinds of garnets, I can attest to their durability, despite the fact they’re not as hard as corundum or spinel. I wouldn’t sleep, shower, do chores with them, but they’re totally fine for regular wear, and having worn a large grossilar everyday for over a year, it really held up well.

 

[musicloveranthony]

I have some Mali garnets (grossular/andradite) in a ring (my profile pic) that I've had for at least 10 years. They still look good as new. I just don't wear it every day and I don't wear it when I'm doing activities with my hands.

There's no garnets that I'd hesitate to wear in earrings or a pendant!