The facts
What gadolinium Gallium Garnet actually is
Mineralogically, gadolinium Gallium Garnet is synthetic garnet-structure oxide — Gd₃Ga₅O₁₂, crystallising in the isometric system.
The colour is caused by colourless to pale brown; discolours slowly to brownish under ultraviolet exposure. That is worth knowing because it determines what heating, light and time can and cannot do to the stone.
A refractometer reads 1.970, and the specific gravity sits near 7.02–7.09; cleavage is none.
Where gadolinium Gallium Garnet comes from
The recognised sources are Czochralski-grown, chiefly in the USA, Japan and China.
One source only — which is unusual, and which means an origin claim naming anywhere else is either a mistake or a different material.
How gadolinium Gallium Garnet is treated
Entirely synthetic, with no natural analogue. A 1970s diamond simulant, largely abandoned because it is soft for the job, browns under UV and is very heavy — its specific gravity of about 7 is the give-away. Now mainly a substrate for magnetic and optical films.
None of this is a problem when it is said out loud. It becomes one the moment it is left out.
What gadolinium Gallium Garnet is confused with
The usual confusions are Diamond, Cubic zirconia, YAG and Strontium titanate.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.970 and specific gravity 7.02–7.09 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What gadolinium Gallium Garnet is used for
Gadolinium Gallium Garnet is bought by jewellery, technical and precision components and mineral collecting — and each of those trades wants a different form of the same material.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the piece or by the specimen.
Durability and care
Hardness 6.5–7; 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 gadolinium Gallium Garnet costs
Indicative pricing for gadolinium Gallium Garnet is 5–40 USD/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 gadolinium Gallium Garnet treated, and how?
Entirely synthetic, with no natural analogue. A 1970s diamond simulant, largely abandoned because it is soft for the job, browns under UV and is very heavy — its specific gravity of about 7 is the give-away. Now mainly a substrate for magnetic and optical films.
Where does gadolinium Gallium Garnet come from?
Czochralski-grown, chiefly in the USA, Japan and China. That is the only commercial source.
Is gadolinium Gallium Garnet hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 6.5–7 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 gadolinium Gallium Garnet cost?
Indicatively 5–40 USD/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 gadolinium Gallium Garnet confused with?
Most often Diamond, Cubic zirconia, YAG and Strontium titanate. A refractive index of 1.970 and a specific gravity near 7.02–7.09 separate it quickly.
What is gadolinium Gallium Garnet used for besides jewellery?
technical and precision components and mineral collecting. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
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