Gemstones - Background and Lore - Demantoid

Demantoid means "diamond like" in Dutch. It is called that because although it is softer than a diamond it has a higher dispersion, so it flashes a rainbow of color when light hits it. This green gem is a variety of andradite and a member of the garnet family. Demantoid ranges from intense green to yellow green. Under a microscope, demantoid has what are called horse tails - wisps of long, golden, fiber-like inclusions that radiate from a central point. Demantoid was discovered in the Ural Mountains of Russia in 1868. Tiffany and Company bought up a bunch of it and marketed it as a cheaper alternative to emerald. It adorned much Victorian jewelry crafted between 1895 to 1915. The supply of demantoid has dwindled making it a prized collector's stone. Recently discovered in Namibia have slightly boosted the availability. Demantoid joins the garnet group in that it is a birthstone for January. It has a hardness of 6.5 - 7 on the Mohs Scale of hardness. It's toughness is considered fair to good. Extreme changes in temperature may cause this stone to fracture. Also, hydrofluoric acid will attack this gem. Ultrasonic cleaning is usually safe unless the stone contains liquid inclusions. Never steam clean this stone. The safest way to clean the stone is with warm and soapy water. Some alternatives include emerald, green sapphire, green zircon, peridot, tourmaline, and tsavorite garnet.

According to the ancient Jewish text the Talmud, a garnet provided the only source of light on Noah's Ark. Garnet jewelry has been found in Egyptian, Greek and Roman ruins. Some Asiatic tribes fashioned garnets into bullets believing that they would be more lethal than lead bullets. Garnet is also believed to protect its wearer from evil and disaster. The word garnet comes from a Latin word meaning pomegranate. Demantoid Garnet's are said to enhance creativity, understanding, and to help to bring success to business matters. Physically they are said to fight infectious diseases, blood poisonings, and heart and lung diseases.