Demantoid

If Demantoid sounds an awful lot like diamond to you, you are right!  When Demantoid was first discovered in the 19th century is was decided that with such intense sparkle, the stone should be named Demantoid to emphasize its diamond-like appearance.

Demantoid 101

Demantoids are a type of garnet. In fact, they are among the rarest and most valuable member of the garnet gem 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. from 1879 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?

The sparkle is scientifically known as dispersion. This is when light is split into its individual spectral colors which result in the rainbow of colors reflected from gemstones. The refractive index of a gemstone is another measure that can tell us how much a stone will sparkle when light travels through. And demandtoid's dispersion as well as refractive index are both very high, causing a jaw-dropping display of color and sparkle when exposed to light. In fact, Demantoid tops its namesake diamond for both the measures, making Demantoid the sparklier stone of the two.

Is Demantoid rare?

Demantoids are a thousand (if not ten thousand) times rarer than diamond 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.

What should I know before buying demandtoid jewelry?

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. If you decide to purchase a piece of jewelry with Demantoids, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

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, bracelet and studs are all dazzling pieces. If you are looking for more color, you can go for the Watermelon Waves Ring or Watermelon Necklace.