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Idaho 281 Star Garnets
The Star Garnet
is distinctive to the state of
Idaho, with India the only other
producer of the gem.
The Idaho material is considered
superior. Garnets are fairly common
and can be found just about
anywhere, but not the quality that
came out of the 281 Gulch in the
famous
Emerald creek area of Northern Idaho.
The 281 Gulch Creek
is where the "best of the best" rough star garnet cutting material the Emerald creek area produced, with a 100% chance
you'll get at least a 4 ray star and 50% chance of a 6 ray star outcome. The left
fork of 281 produces the best "silk"
in the star garnet which causes the
the star. The stars are much
brighter and the stones are much
cleaner with less iron inclusions or
blemishes. The left fork has been
worked hard (similar to dredging) at
least 3 times and has been depleted.
Click here for
more info.on 281.
The Idaho Star Garnet is known
world-wide by collectors and it is
very popular with amateur
lapidarists. The Garnet wears well
since it is an alamandite garnet and
is rated 7 1/2 in hardness. Both men
and women wear the stone as a
birthstone. Star Garnets are all
natural stones and are not made by
man. This stone is more rare than
either Star Rubies or Star
Sapphires. Normally the star in the
garnet has four rays, but
occasionally one has six rays as in
a sapphire. The color is usually
dark purple or plume color and the
star seems to glide or float across
the dark surface. Stewart's Gem
Shop's specialty is Idaho Star
Garnets and we stand by all our Star
Garnet rough as the best you can get
anywhere in the world. |
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