If demantoid sounds a lot like diamond to you, you are right! The gemstone's intense sparkle resembled diamond so much, that the name is derived from the middle low German word demant, which means diamond-like.

Demantoid 101

Demantoids are a type of garnet. In fact, they are among the rarest and most valuable members of the garnet family. Their color, an intense green to yellow-green hue is due to presence of chromium. Many stones are high in clarity but some have needle-like inclusions, also known as "horsetails" among gemstone lovers.

Demantoid was first discovered in Russia’s Ural Mountains and is still widely associated with the country. However, today demantoids are also mined in other places, such as Namibia and Madagascar.

While the limited availability has made demantoid less popular in jewelry over the years, it was often used in the famous workshop of Carl Fabergé, who produced jewelry for the Russian Czars. Demantoids were also a favorite of  George Kunz, chief gemologist at Tiffany & Co. until 1932, who is said to have loved the gem so much, he purchased all the gems he could find. Today, the gem is a favorite at Meluzza, as it is one of Paula's favorite gemstones.

What Makes Demantoid So Sparkly?

Two phenomena are responsible for the intense sparkle of demantoids: dispersion and the refractive index. They are both optical properties and tell us how light interacts with gemstones. The refractive index measures how much light bends when it travels through a gemstone - the more the light bends the sparklier the stone. Dispersion (aka. fire) is when light is split into its individual spectral colors, which result in the rainbow of colors reflected from many gemstones. Demandtoid ranks high on both measures, causing a jaw-dropping display of color and sparkle when exposed to light. In fact, demantoid tops diamond for both, making demantoid the sparklier stone of the two. 

Is Demantoid Rare?

Demantoids are much rarer than diamonds and gems over a few carats are extremely rare. Because many gemstone quality demantoids hardly exceed one carat, they are not often used in jewelry. Their rarity makes it impossible to plan a line around them that will be produced in mass quantities.

If you own a piece of demantoid jewelry you own a truly unique piece that is unlikely to be replicated easily by anyone. Even with new deposits being discovered in Madagascar, the stone remains one of the most unusual stones available in jewelry.

What Should I Know Before Buying Demandtoid Jewelry?

If you decide to purchase a piece of jewelry with demantoids, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First off, they are not diamond-like in hardness. While durable enough to wear in any type of jewelry, demantoids are much softer stones and should be treated with care. They are a 6.5-7 on the Mohs Scale of hardness, making them somewhat susceptible to scratching. Avoid putting demantoids in ultrasonic cleaners and use a delicate soap and water instead.

Demantoid is one of Paula's favorite stones, and we have plenty of jewelry with the unique stone to offer. Our Pistachio Ice Cream ring, tennis bracelet, and studs are all dazzling pieces. The Watermelon Necklace is an opportunity to own a truly unique necklace - with a gem over one carat, it is a one-in-a-million piece!