The facts
What almandine actually is
Almandine is classified as almandine garnet, with the composition Fe₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃. It crystallises in the cubic system.
Colour comes from iron, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.78–1.83. Specific gravity around 3.95–4.30. Cleavage: none. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where almandine comes from
Almandine is produced at Rajasthan and Odisha, India, Sri Lanka, Brazil and Australia.
The locality is part of the description, not a footnote — two stones of the same weight from two of these places are not the same stone.
Is almandine treated?
None.
That makes disclosure simple: there is nothing to declare. It also means a seller offering a "treated" version of this material is offering something else.
What almandine is confused with
In the trade almandine is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Pyrope, Ruby or Red spinel.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.78–1.83 and specific gravity 3.95–4.30 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What almandine is used for
Demand for almandine comes from jewellery and abrasives, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat or by the tonne.
Durability and care
Hardness 7–7.5; cleavage none. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What almandine costs
As a guide, almandine trades around $5–80/ct.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is almandine treated?
None.
Where does almandine come from?
Rajasthan and Odisha, India, Sri Lanka, Brazil and Australia. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is almandine hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 7–7.5 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does almandine cost?
Indicatively $5–80/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is almandine confused with?
Most often Pyrope, Ruby and Red spinel. A refractive index of 1.78–1.83 and a specific gravity near 3.95–4.30 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for almandine?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about almandine