--- title: Lessons from the Humble Garnet date: 2018-08-09T13:35:00+01:00 author: Ellie Kyle canonical_url: "https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/engagement-ring-insurance/the-humble-garnet/" section: News --- Our Customers Love Us! Engagement Ring Insurance [Trustpilot](https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/assetsure.com) [Home](/) › [Jewellery Insurance](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/) › [Engagement Ring Insurance](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/engagement-ring-insurance/) › [Lessons from the Humble Garnet](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/engagement-ring-insurance/the-humble-garnet/) # Lessons from the Humble Garnet When it comes to engagement rings, the diamond solitaire is the traditional favourite but there is a growing trend towards[ engagement rings](/jewellery/engagement-ring-insurance/ "Engagement Ring Insurance") with alternative gemstones – most notably since Will popped the question with Princess Diana’s jaw dropping diamond and sapphire engagement ring. ### So how to choose? Well, some people take their inspiration from birthstones so, for January, we take a look at the garnet. Classed as a semi-precious gemstone, the garnet may not be an obvious choice for an engagement ring but it has captivated hearts and minds for centuries.The garnet features in Greek legend, ancient Egyptian myth and the major world religions. Noah is reported to have carried a garnet lantern to guide the ark through the night and it is considered to have healing, as well as talismanic, properties. Garnet is reported as one of the gemstones in Aaron’s breastplate, and also features in the Koran illuminating the fourth heaven of Moslems. The word ‘garnet’ comes from the Latin for grain and its name is thought to have been inspired by its resemblance to pomegranate seeds – a fruit associated as a gift of love in Greek mythology. It has always been popular in jewellery – in part due to its excellent hardness (6.5 – 7.5 on the Mohs scale), which makes it one of the more durable gemstones. One of the most iconic pieces of garnet jewellery was the 19th century cabochon garnet flower brooch worn by Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis and sold at Sotheby’s as part of her estate for $145,000 in 1996. Dating back much further, probably the most extensive collection of garnet studded jewellery was the Staffordshire hoard, unearthed near Lichfield in 2009. Valued at £3.28 million by the British museum, the hoard of largely military items, such as swords, helmets, coins and crosses, included 5,000kg of gold and 3,500 cloisonné garnets. ### How it’s valued While generally thought of as a red stone, garnet actually comes in a number of colours. The most common is the red pyrope garnet, which has a slightly brown tint; other types are rhodolite (purplish red), almandite (red-violet) and, the tsavorite (emerald green) and demantoid (green to emerald green). These green stones are the most valuable and flawless, and to the naked or untrained eye, may be indistinguishable from an emerald. #### When to give Garnet? Aside from, of course, in January (or indeed at any time of year to those born in January), the garnet is traditionally associated with the 19th wedding anniversary – or depending which list you consult, the 2nd or 6th anniversaries! It also carries resonance as a farewell gift to a lover about to depart on a trip (designed to ensure a speedy reunion), inspired by Hades’ gift of a pomegranate to Persephone to ensure her prompt return. As you’ll probably have gathered, there’s more to garnet than meets the eye, and as with all precious stones, if you’re about to invest in an item of value, whether as an engagement ring or other gift of love, it’s vital to buy from a reputable jeweller who can tell his pyropes from his rhodolites. (Try [Hirschfelds,](http://hirschfelds.co.uk/ "Semi-Precious Gemstone Jewellery") specialists in fine antique jewellery and semi-precious gemstones.) **And, of course, we’d always advise you to get it [insured!](/jewellery/precious-stones-insurance/ "precious stone insurance")** ## Latest News & Advice [![Insure an Engagement Ring before Proposal](/assets/uploads/images/_800x405_crop_center-center_none/before-proposing-news-banner.webp)](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/engagement-ring-insurance/insure-engagement-ring-before-proposal/) ### [Insure an Engagement Ring before Proposal](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/engagement-ring-insurance/insure-engagement-ring-before-proposal/) You’ve bought the engagement ring, Now you just need to keep it hidden, plan the proposal and hope your partner doesn’t discover it first. But there’s another question worth considering: should you insure an engagement ring before you propose?... [![Why is my engagement ring valuation higher than the price I paid](/assets/uploads/images/_800x405_crop_center-center_none/engagement-valuation-news-banner.webp)](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/engagement-ring-insurance/my-engagement-ring-valuation/) ### [Why is my engagement ring valuation higher than the price I paid](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/engagement-ring-insurance/my-engagement-ring-valuation/) Why is my engagement ring valuation higher than the price I paid? You paid £3,000 for your engagement ring, but you've just had it valued at £4,000. Has it really gone up in value by £1,000, Not necessarily.... [![Which Engagement Ring Shape Makes A Diamond Look Largest](/assets/uploads/images/_800x405_crop_center-center_none/diamond-shapes-news-banner.webp)](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/engagement-ring-insurance/make-a-diamond-look-largest/) ### [Which Engagement Ring Shape Makes A Diamond Look Largest](https://www.assetsure.com/jewellery/engagement-ring-insurance/make-a-diamond-look-largest/) Which engagement ring shape makes a diamond look largest? It is easy to assume that a diamond with a greater carat weight will always look bigger. In reality, that's not always the case.... [More News](https://assetsure.com/news) ## Why choose our specialist insurance cover? ### Extensive Cover Our policy provides all-risks cover as standard. This means events such as loss or damage are covered with fewer exclusions and warranties. ### Worldwide Cover You are covered anywhere in the world for trips up to 60 days. ### Single Item Insurance We can insure your engagement ring on it's own or you may like to add other items such as wedding rings or other items of jewellery. ### Protect your no claims bonus This is a "stand-alone" policy, any claim will not affect any no claims bonus you may have under your home insurance ### Excellent friendly claims service We are here to help you if you need to make a claim. We will liaise between you and the insurers to help settle your claim as quickly as possible. ### Members of BIBA We are members of the British Insurance Brokers Association,the UK's leading general insurance intermediary organisation. 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