Demantoid Garnet is a rare and beautiful bright grass
green sub-variety of andradite garnet. The
demantoid is one of the most brilliant colored gemstones that exists, yet until recently it was little known except among collectors and colored gemstone lovers. Strictly speaking it is a
green garnet, or rather the star of the
green garnets. Not without reason does it bear a name which means 'diamond-like'. The name comes from the Dutch and makes reference to the outstanding quality of this gem, its incomparable
brilliance and
fire. Some colored gemstone lovers claim that a
demantoid will continue to glow even in the shade. A diagnostic characteristic of
fine demantoid garnet is the inclusion of radiating fibres of byssolite (asbestos) fibres in a pattern described as a horse-tail. There is no other green colored stone which shows this feature. In late Victorian times, and early in the twentieth century,
loose demantoid garnet became a very sought after stone. It commanded high prices because it has never been available in large quantity. In recent decades, it has been unobtainable as newly mined stones, and has only been available from antique jewelry.
