A beautiful bright stone with a deep and rich burgundy red attracted the attention of a man 3 thousand years ago. Today, pomegranate has not lost its popularity and is still often found in jewelry. If you want to buy a jewelry with this stone, it will be useful for you to know that pomegranate is a precious or semi-precious stone, as well as what are its main properties.
Gem Features
Red-burgundy bright and shiny pebbles reminded people of pomegranate seeds, which in ancient times was called the Phoenician apple. From the similarity with the fruit, the name of this mineral also came - originally in Latin it sounded like “pomegranate”, that is, “similar to grains”. It is believed that the alchemist Albert Magnus introduced it into use at the end of the 13th century.
Today, this name means a whole group of minerals. In a narrow sense, these are two of their varieties - transparent red almandines and dark red pyropes. However, in a broader sense, related minerals are considered to be related minerals - pink and scarlet spessartines, purple rhodolites, brown andradites, and even green grossulars. Scientists believe that not all of them are of equal value, but if we talk about red stones used in jewelry, there is no doubt about whether garnets are precious or semi-precious. Undoubtedly, it belongs to the first variety.
The properties
In addition to color, the types of pomegranate have other differences. So, most of them let in sunlight. But there are those that barely shine through, for example, melanite, which has a dark, almost black color. The pomegranate shine is always clean, glass, and in some species even diamond.
Pomegranate is not a rare stone, it is mined all over the world, but there are not so many really worthy samples with a high cost. In Russia, pomegranates are mined in Chukotka and in Yakutia. And in the Urals there are deposits of unusual green pomegranate, called Ural.
Pomegranate in History and Culture
Grenades have been known to mankind for more than 3 thousand years. Ancient people carved images of animals and people on the surface of raw minerals, later portraits. Surely you once heard the word “carbuncle”. So from the Latin “coal” garnet named Pliny the Elder for its similarity to smoldering coal.
Many peoples considered the described stone endowed with powerful power. The crusaders wore a grenade ring to protect themselves from injuries in battle. Among the Persians, it symbolized power, and in the East - perseverance and good health. At the same time, the pomegranate is also attributed to its medicinal properties, for example, its powder is mixed with water and drunk to treat stomach diseases and give vitality.
In Russia, the mineral appeared in the 16th century. “Venis” and “beets” - that was what the garnet stone was called then. Then its price was not too high and significantly inferior to ruby or spinel. However, the stone was used in folk medicine. For example, it was believed that he helps a woman in childbirth.
In the following centuries, pomegranate gains more and more value and, thanks to its deep red color, is overgrown with various symbols. So, the scientist Boethius de Boote in his writings calls the stone hardened drops of pure water, painted with red blood vapor.
Garnets gained particular popularity in the era of romanticism. Jewelers of that time created truly works of art from these gems, many of which became museum values. For example, a pendant with pomegranate, presented by the Czech composer Smetana to his wife, which is stored in the Prague Museum named after him. Or a magnificent set of 6 items decorated with pomegranates, which Goethe presented to his young lover Ulrika.
Who is suitable for
It is believed that pomegranate is a stone of will, strong character, determination and passion, and it suits people with the same disposition. Therefore, very often this stone is a companion of creative figures - artists, musicians, poets, artists. He helps them to surrender to the cause with all passion and soul. But it is better not to wear jewelry with pomegranate for uninitiated and lazy people, since it is believed that he only emotionally exhausts such a person and leads him to a breakdown.
Also, this gem is a symbol of passionate and devoted love, and is perfect as a gift to your beloved woman. Ladies garnet adds wisdom and tranquility. But the mineral presented to a man can arouse serious passions in him and kindle the fire of love, sometimes even against his will. At least, such properties are attributed to this magic stone.
There are certain indications to which zodiac sign pomegranate is suitable. First of all, this is Capricorn, who always goes to his goal, and the fiery signs of Leo and Sagittarius. But he does not fit Aries, because he is quick-tempered, but quickly calms down, and the grenade needs a constant glow of passion.
Libra and Aquarius are better off wearing only green garnets, but Pisces and Crayfish are advised to refrain from wearing this stone.
Where is pomegranate used?
Precious or semi-precious stone - today is not so important. All varieties of pomegranate are extremely popular in the modern world. It is widely used in industry, in construction, in electronics and in other fields. In general, the industrial use of pomegranate is possible due to the fact that it breaks into small pieces with sharp cutting edges. This crumb is glued to a linen or paper base and durable abrasives are obtained. In construction, it is added to cement, and in instrumentation, sapphires and rubies are sometimes replaced with garnet.
Natural patterns often go to the manufacture of figures, figurines and, of course, jewelry.
Jewelry
So, we decided, pomegranate is a precious or semiprecious stone, and we learned that most of its types belong to the first variety.
The most popular is a translucent almandine, painted in dark cherry or red-brown color. Jewelry from such a garnet is produced by most popular jewelry brands, such as Sokolov, Sunlight, Adamas. You can buy any product - a ring with a garnet, earrings, brooches, pendants, bracelets, necklaces. These gems are framed with gold of all shades and silver. Garnets are added to diamonds, amethysts, chrysolites, as well as marcasites and cubic zirconias. The price for them is not very high - the simplest silver ring can cost about 1000 rubles. How much the stone itself costs is hard to say for sure. When evaluating it, color, appearance, quality and processing method are taken into account.