Could my garnet be cut and set into jewelry?

[Audinosaur]

I know this isn't a diamond related question but I don't know where else to go for this. I have a large piece of garnet that I am hoping to get cut into a ring and wondering if the stone is jewelry grade. If I shine a light through it I can see through parts of it but not the entire stone. The stone is so large and dark however I don't know if the light test is everything. The stone is still stuck in its original mica which obstructs the view even further but if anyone can tell how good the stone is from this I would like to hear it.

 

[ChristineRose]

The colored stone forum is the place to ask.

Take it to your local gem and mineral club. They'll at least have the tools to look at. Garnet is fairly cheap though. Well-cut garnet, not so much. I suspect that if it were possible and cost effective to get a decent cut stone out of there, it would already have happened. Maybe you could sell it to a mineral collector and buy some cutable rough, or better yet, find a cutter and ask them to source rough for you.

 

[partgypsy]

yes post in colored stone forum. Honestly I think it looks prettier and more interesting as a specimen piece, than what you would get making a cut gemstone.

 

[Audinosaur]

Thanks, I'm not sure if it has ever been looked at by a professional as it was found outside and not bought from a shop. I will have it looked at and see if it is good or not

 

[Texas Leaguer]

It's a very nice mineral specimen! My guess is that its collector value in its current natural state is far more than cutting it up, especially considering labor cost to do so.

But if you have your mind set on having a piece of jewelry made from it, have it physically evaluated by someone knowledgeable before you carve it up.

 

[Karl_K]

I agree with Bryan but most likely a cutter will tell you they are not interested in even looking at it.
There may or may not be enough gem grade materiel in it to make some sort of stone but it will likely be tiny and cost more to extract than the cutter buying a preform and cutting it.