GARNETS are the birthstone for January, although that does not stop those of us with other birth months from enjoying them. The Bohemian garnet was only found in Bohemia and was valued for it's color, beauty and supposed curative and uplifting effects. Garnet jewelry is varied in style and garnets themselves range from multi-faceted reflectors of rich deep reds to cabochons, juicy as pomegranate seeds. They also come in almost all colors except blue.

Garnets were mounted in both low and higher karat yellow gold, gold plate and mixed metal settings and more recently in sterling. The history of garnet jewelry goes back hundreds of years and it's longevity is no surprise when you see how glorious they are. Bohemian garnet jewelry is known for it's encrusted close-set stones, which are often rose cut and sometimes combined with larger cabochons and faceted stones. (Bohemia became Czechoslovakia after World War I.)

An article in the "Journal of the Society of the Arts" August 25, 1892, states that at that time there were over 3000 cutters working in 500 shops in the Bohemian garnet industry. With the miners and other workers there were about 10,000 person making a living in the industry, and they certainly made a lot of wonderful jewelry.
 

 
NECKLACES & PENDANTS
 

VICTORIAN garnet cabochon or carbuncle and white enamel Etruscan style pendant with fringe and locket back, in original box, total length 3-1/2" and the oval itself is 1-5/8" by 1-1/4". A very similar locket can be seen page 186, "Collecting Victorian Jewelry" by Jeanenne Bell.    View   View   View   View    #V35298

VICTORIAN 9ct yellow gold pendant with garnet cabochon, pearl starburst center, photo locket on the back, marked on the clasp "375, 15ct, Birmingham" and other illegible hallmarks, in a box marked "To His Majesty the King, Edward, diamond merchants, 92 Buchannan St, Glasgow", chain 16", pendant 1-1/3" with loop by 1" and chain, tests 14k.  View   View   View   View   View   View  View   #V34322

VICTORIAN 15 karat yellow gold and garnet cabochon pendant with photo opening on the back, 1-1/3" by 1-1/8". This is an extra lovely garnet with wonderful color and the detailed edging around the locket is gorgeous.  View   #V36330

VICTORIAN Bohemian wine red rose cut garnet necklace in gilt setting with three front dangles, later added safety chain, 17-1/2" with 2-1/2" front drop. What a lush beauty. Necklaces like this can be seen in the 1899 Benjamin Allen Company Catalogue. Bohemian garnet jewelry can be seen on page 88 of Romero's Warman's Jewelry, Ed. 3.   View   View   #V35586

VICTORIAN Bohemian garnet necklace with stars and drops, 17-1/2" by 1-1/2" front drop. Every garnet is rose cut by hand and there are both round and teardrop shapes. There is one tiny professional repair on the back, stable and well done. A very similar necklace can be seen in the 1899 Benjamin Allen Catalogue HERE.   View   View   #Q37326

BOHEMIAN 20th century Bohemian garnet necklace, with both rose cut and faceted oval stones, a lovely combination, 18" with 2" front drop.   View   View   View   #V28221  

BOHEMIAN garnet necklaces, bracelets, cross and hair pins shown in the 1899 Benjamin Allen Company Catalogue.

   BOHEMIAN garnets set in sterling gilt necklace with graduated floret links and front drops, garnet set box closure,  18-1/2" by 1-1/3". See a similar necklace in Romero's Warman's Jewelry Ed. 3 on page 88.  View   View   View   #V29371

 BOHEMIAN garnet goods shown in the 1899 Benjamin Allen Company Catalogue..

BOHEMIAN garnet 1-3/4" lavaliere with dangling tear-drop shaped garnet.   View   #V23371

   BOHEMIAN GARNETS brooch with a flip-up loop for a pendant, 1-5/8".  View   View    View   View   View   View  #V18669    

 EDWARDIAN 9ct yellow gold lavaliere with garnets and seed pearls and 9ct chain, 2-1/3" by 1-1/3" pendant and 18" chain, both marked "9ct" and maker's mark on the lavaliere "F&G" . This is really lovely in person and a bit larger than most lavalieres. unlike many lavalieres, it also has a chain the same age as the piece.  View   View   #V36388

  BOHEMIAN GARNETS set in sterling vermeil necklace, 18-1/2".   View   View   View   View   View   #V18979

 ENGLISH 9k yellow gold, flat cut garnet and seed pearls necklace with closed back settings, 16" necklace with 1-7/8" front drop It is marked "9kt" on the back of the clasp.  View   View   View   View   #V35003

   EDWARDIAN 9ct yellow gold lavaliere with garnet and seed pearls, 1-1/8".   View   #Q29150
 

BOHEMIAN GARNET necklace with rose cut garnets, hallmarked with the letter "G2", "900" for silver, and the Czech rabbit head with the number 3  for 900/1000 silver, 20th century 16" wearable length and 5/16" wide.   View   #V37152  

BOHEMIAN 20th century garnet necklace with rose cut garnets set in gold tone, 15-1/2" with 1-1/3" front drop. Bohemian garnet jewelry is known for it's encrusted close-set stones and these are a lovely rich wine red color.   View   View   #Q34456

 
BRACELETS
 

BOHEMIAN garnet hinged bangle bracelet set in silver gilt and with a safety chain, 7" wearable size, 1-1/8" wide at the front and 5/16" at the back. This is a lush and lovely bracelet full of garnets with wonderful coloring.   View   #V36312

VICTORIAN garnet hinged bangle, 6-5/8" with 3/4" front and 1/4" back, safety chain.   View   #V31202

VICTORIAN BOHEMIAN garnet hinged bangle with luscious coloring and garnets all the way around, circa 1900, 6-1/2" wearable size, 1" wide at the front and 1/8" band. The rose cuts on these garnets are beautifully reflective, which is one reason Bohemian garnets are so in demand.   View   View   #V37079

VICTORIAN Bohemian garnet hinged bangle bracelet, 6-1/2" by 1-1/8" at the front and 3/16 at the back.   View   View   #V35422

VICTORIAN Bohemian garnet silver gilt hinged bracelet with creamy satin lined box, all rose cut stones with rich red color, 6-3/4" by 7/8" at front and1/4" at back, safety chain.   View   View   View   View   #V34395

VICTORIAN Bohemian garnet bracelet with domed glass center, garnet-colored glass beads and gilt band, 7" 1-5/8" by 1-1/3" clasp and 9-strand 1-1/4" band.   View   View   View   View   #V35678

 BOHEMIAN GARNET garnet hinged bangle bracelet with safety chain, 7" with a 7/8" wide front and 1/4" back, engraved with a name inside "Blanche Schultz". The inside indented in the back half where the engraved name was done, but that is not visible at all when worn.   View   View   View   #V36976

BOHEMIAN garnet bracelet with round links, 7" wearable size and 1-1/8" at the front widest. A similar bracelet can be seen in the 1899 Benjamin Allen Catalogue HERE.   View   View   View   #V37280

BOHEMIAN GARNETS hinged bangle bracelet with rich red unfoiled garnets set in antiqued gold tone metal open settings all the way around, wearable size 7", 1" wide at the front and 1/4" wide at the back. As is often the case, this is even better in person than in the photograph.   View   View  #V37205

VICTORIAN garnet superb hinged bangle set in 830-marked silver gilt with maker's mark "HE" on clasp, 7-1/4" with 1" front 1/3" back. One of the best garnet bracelets I have ever seen.    View   #V33549

BOHEMIAN garnet heart cabochon hinged bangle bracelet with safety chain, a lovely garnet heart cabochon surrounded by rose cut garnets all set in gold washed metal, 6-2/3" by 1" front and 3/8" band. Rich color and close-set stones typical of good Bohemian garnet jewelry.  View   #V33325

VICTORIAN Bohemian garnet hinged bangle with starburst front, 7" with 3/4" front 3/16" back.   View   #V33548

VICTORIAN gilt Bohemian garnets hinged bangle.  View   View   #V35422

VICTORIAN 10k yellow gold with unusual hollow floral and scrolls etched links bracelet with garnet cabochon etched scrolls padlock, bracelet 7" by 5/8", padlock 1-1/2".   View   View   View   #V31568

VICTORIAN Bohemian garnet double-row hinged bangle with safety chain, 6-2/3" by 1/4". A similar bracelet can be seen in the 1889 SFM & Co. Catalogue.   #V31779

VICTORIAN Bohemian garnet hinged bangle bracelet in gold tone setting, circa 1890, a small size at 6" around the inside with a 1/2" wide front and 1/3" wide back. A similar bracelet can be seen in the 1887 E. V. Roddin Catalogue    View   #Q34455

VICTORIAN 9 carat yellow gold snake bracelet with red and green garnets set in embossed head. The bracelet has two hinged sections so it is easy to get on, and one has a replacement pin, repaired long ago in it's history. It comes in it's own fitted box, 6-1/3" and 1" wide at the front. The snake was a symbol of eternal love.    View   View   View    View   View  #V34762

VICTORIAN garnet bangle, 8-3/4" by 1/8" wide, a 2-3/4" circle.    #V31550

 
BROOCHES
 

VICTORIAN 15 karat snake infinity brooch with garnet cabochon head and eyes and a lovely genuine pearl drop, it has no marks but tests 14-15k, 1-1/2" by 1-1/4".  The snake has delicately engraved scales on and behind his head. This style snake symbolized eternal love in the Victorian era, a promise of love or friendship.   View   #V37140

VICTORIAN garnet cabochons white and red enamel brooch and earrings set in box, brooch has a tiny bit of white enamel missing, earrings perfect, brooch 1-5/8" by 1-1/3", earrings total length 2", red velvet box with blue velvet lining 3-1/2" by 2-1/2" by 1-1/3" deep.  View   View   View   View   View   View   View   #V37397

  VICTORIAN English 9 karat yellow gold bar pin with inset garnet cabochon surrounded by delicate applied wire work, set into a a raised round setting, marked 9ct on the back, 2-1/2" by 5/8".  View   #V37144

VICTORIAN garnet cabochons brooch and earrings set in 14k yellow gold flowers and leaves, gilt backs, all in original box marked "John Young, late Turnbull & Young, goldsmith & watch maker, 1 & 3 Buchannan St., Glasgow", brooch 1-5/8" by 1-1/3", earrings body only 7/8" by 3/4", total drop 1-1/4".   View   View   View   View   View   View   #V34218

  VICTORIAN yellow gold Bohemian garnet and teardrop-shaped cabochon insect brooch, 1".   View   #V31343

VICTORIAN Bohemian garnet brooch and earrings with rose cut garnets, original box fitted just for this set, brooch 1-1/8" by 1", earrings total length 1-1/4". The unusual original box adds to this lovely treasure.   View   View   #V34077

  BOHEMIAN rose cut garnet starburst brooch, circa 1900, 1-1/3".   View   #Q27933

VICTORIAN yellow gold lover's knot brooch with Bohemian garnets and seed pearls, 2". A similar piece can be seen on page 82 of Bell's "Collecting Victorian Jewelry".    View   #V31467

VICTORIAN early 1800's 14k yellow gold, garnet and pearl lace pin with hair enclosure, 3/4" by 5/8".   View   #V32198

BOHEMIAN garnets in a 1" wide bow pin.   View   #V23372

   VICTORIAN 14k yellow gold knot brooch with garnets, hair compartment on back of lower dangle, 1-3/4" by 3". This is a lovely high-relief piece and a very unusual type of hair jewelry. The knot is a symbol for unending love. The center dangle has a fox tail end, and the overall design is detailed, three-dimensional and elegant. See Bell's "Collecting Victorian Jewelry" page 149.   View   View   View   #V30099

  BOHEMIAN garnet bow brooch, 1".   View   #V26941  

    VICTORIAN Bohemian garnet brooch, star shaped with teardrop shaped garnets, replacement pin back, 1-1/4".   View   #V28216   

VICTORIAN Bohemian garnet brooch with pendant loop and safety chain, 1-1/2". A similar brooch can be seen in the 1887 Roddin Catalogue.   View   View   #V30051

   VICTORIAN Bohemian garnet brooch, 3-tiered rose cuts with an oval cabochon center, 1-1/4".   View   #V28217

    VICTORIAN Bohemian garnet brooch, 3-tiered oval with cab top, 1-1/8".   View   #V28218

    VICTORIAN Bohemian garnet brooch, round with mark on pin stem, 1-1/4".   View   #V28219  

     VICTORIAN Bohemian garnet brooch, unusual square brooch, 1-1/2".   View   #V28220

VICTORIAN garnet swirl brooch with flower sprig in the center, a dainty and lovely pin circa 1900, 2-1/8".   View   #V32288

  BOHEMIAN garnet brooch with cabochon center, 1".   View   #Q29810

VICTORIAN Bohemian garnets brooch and earrings set, pin 1-1/3" by 1/2" deep, earrings 5/8". A catalogue page from E. V. Roddin, 1887 shows pieces of this garnet jewelry.  View   View   View  View   #V32435

A catalogue page from E. V. Roddin, 1887
"Genuine Red Bohemian Garnets.
The material in which the above goods are mounted can not be called gold, but it is a very fine composition metal, particularly adapted in color to the settings, and made especially for the purpose of mounting Bohemian garnets."

   BOHEMIAN rose cut garnet brooch with pendant loop on back, circa 1900, 1-1/3".  See Romero's "Warman's Jewelry, Ed. 2" page 69.   View   #Q27930

Bohemian Garnet Brooch. On page 3 of the EV Roddin 1887 catalogue, "GARNETS- There are two species of garnets- the Oriental and the Bohemian. The lustre and beauty of the Oriental Garnet places it far above the other in commercial value; the tint most esteemed is violet-red. It is composed of a double silicate of Lime and Alumina. They are found in Pegu, in Asia, Brazil and Ceylon. The Bohemian Garnet is composed of a double silicate of Alumina and Iron, and are found in great abundance in Bohemia, Saxony and other parts of Germany."

    BOHEMIAN garnet dome brooch.   View  #V23834

BOHEMIAN rose cut garnets and garnet cabochon bar brooch, circa 1900, 2".   View   #Q27934      

   VICTORIAN BOHEMIAN GARNET brooch with three levels of lovely rose cut garnets in a star shape, a tube hinge and safety catch, 1-1/3". Similar brooches can be seen in the 1902 Ben Allen  Company Catalogue HERE.   View   #V37303

 
RINGS
 

  VICTORIAN 15 carat yellow gold garnet cabochon poison ring with a hinged compartment, a large size 9-1/4, front 5/8" back band 1/8". The garnet cabochon was called a carbuncle in the 1800s, and the ring may have held a memorial piece and certainly not poison.   View   View   View   #V33365

14K BOHEMIAN garnet ring set in karat yellow gold, size 6 and 5/8" across the front in vintage ring box.  View   View   View   View   View   #G33668

GARNET 14k yellow gold setting with lovely rose cut flat back Bohemian garnets ring, size 8. Garnets have such a wonderful color.  View   View   #G36069

       GARNET cabochon pinky ring with embossed sides, circa 1890.   View   View  #G22930  

  RING of Bohemian garnets in gilt setting, size 7-1/2.  View   View   #G29424 

BOHEMIAN Victorian garnets set in yellow gold ring circa 1900, size 9-1/2.  View   #G29438

   BOHEMIAN garnets set in 10k yellow gold pinkie ring, illegible hallmark inside, size 3-3/4.   View   #G31380

GARNET 10k yellow gold and gypsy set garnet ring, marked "MST 37.5" and an unknown hallmark inside the band, size 8, 1/3" wide.    View    #G35255

BOHEMIAN garnet ring set in size 5 and 3/4" along the finger.  View   #V36979

GARNET 14k yellow gold and garnet ring, great color, with a long rectangular center stone and surrounding center stones, size 8-1/2, front is 1-1/2" tall by 5/8" wide.  View   View   #V29369

VICTORIAN 9k rose gold and garnets snake ring, hallmarks inside of band, size 13, weight .16oz.   View   View  #V34624

BOHEMIAN garnet rose cut garnets ring, hallmarked "DA*", set in gilt silver, size 7-3/4 and 7/8" along the finger.  View   #V37154  

 
EARRINGS
 

VICTORIAN Bohemian garnet 3-part earrings, total wearable length 1-3/4".   View   #V35758

  BOHEMIAN garnet round pierced earrings, rich deep wine red colored stones set in 10 karat yellow gold, 3/4".   View   #V34701

 BOHEMIAN garnet earrings with three sections that catch the light when as they move, circa 1900, 1-1/4" total length.   View   #Q34453

VICTORIAN flat cut garnet pansy earrings, collet set in the Georgian way with foiled but covered backs and later added gold ear wires, 1" by 3/4". The box is included, but I do not think it is as old as the earrings which are late Georgian or early Victorian.   View    View   View   View  #V37285 

 BOHEMIAN garnet star earrings, for pierced ears and with 14k backs and posts, 1/2" wide. Earrings like this can be seen in the 1892 RCF & Co. Catalogue and in the 1899 B. Allen Catalogue.     View   #V33255

BOHEMIAN GARNET pierced earrings with rose cut garnets, hallmarked with the letter "G" and the Czech rabbit head with the number 3 for 900/1000 silver, garnet portion 1/2", total length 3/4".  View   #V37151

 GARNET earrings with rose cut and cabochon garnets, marked "800", total length 1-1/3".   View   #V35372

BOHEMIAN garnet dangly earrings with gold tone open back settings, marked "Germany" on the in the ear wire, total length 1-1/2" from top of ear wire to bottom of earring.  View   #V37254

BOHEMIAN GARNET pierced earrings with rose cut garnets, hallmarked with the letter "G" and the Czech rabbit head with the number 3 for 900/1000 silver, garnet portion 1/2", total length 3/4". Similar but older earrings can be seen in the 1899 Benjamin Allen Catalogue HERE.   View   #V37151 

BOHEMIAN garnet earrings, simple classic style, 1" from top of ear wire to bottom of earring.  View   #V37255

REFERENCES:
Warman's Jewelry by Christie Romero, Ed 3
EV Roddin, 1887-9
Daniel Low Catalogue, 1901
S.F. Myers Catalogues, 1885-1889
Benjamin Allen & Co., 1899
A.C. Becken Catalogue, 1902
National Czech & Slovak Museum
Garnets on Wikipedia