Weight (Specific Gravity): High – ~4.05. It has a substantial, premium heft, noticeably heavier than most red gemstones like ruby or spinel.
Treatment: Almandine garnet is almost never treated. Its color and clarity are natural. It is not heated, irradiated, or filled. This is a key selling point for garnets—they are valued as a naturally beautiful gem. Synthetic almandine exists but is primarily for industrial use, not jewelry.
Body (Clarity/Transparency): Almandine ranges from transparent to translucent. It is a Type II gem, meaning some inclusions are typical. Fine specimens are transparent and clean to the eye, with a vitreous to resinous luster. It has no cleavage, making it durable (Mohs 7-7.5), but can be brittle. The color is typically a deep, slightly purplish red. In larger sizes, it can appear so dark it looks nearly black in dim light (“anthracite effect”).
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