Garnet is the generic term for 10 different gemstones of similar chemical composition, including the dark-red pyrope (“pyropos” means “fiery” in Greek), which is the variety most people have in mind when they think of garnet. Derived from the Latin word “granum”, the term refers to the roundish, grain shaped form of many natural garnet crystals. Garnet was commonly called red carbuncle stone. Occurring in multiple shades of green, brown, yellow, orange and red, garnets display a color spectrum that corresponds to the shades and hues typical of late summer. Thanks to their high refractive index, garnets glitter like diamonds. Garnets are particularly hard gemstones. In the past, most of the garnets used for jewelry originated from Bohemia; nowadays, most of them come from the USA, India, South Africa, Brazil and Sri Lanka. Referred to as a “crisis stone”, garnet is believed to help its wearers in desperate situations, and to boost their self-confidence, willpower and joie de vivre. It is also said to be conducive to an active and healthy sex life, to help cure diseases of the heart and of the mind, and to strengthen our heart, our blood circulation and our brain.