The facts
What yttrium Aluminium Garnet actually is
Mineralogically, yttrium Aluminium Garnet is synthetic garnet-structure oxide — Y₃Al₅O₁₂, crystallising in the isometric system.
The colour is caused by colourless when pure; rare-earth dopants give green (Cr), blue (Co), red (Mn) and the familiar Nd-doped laser material. That is worth knowing because it determines what heating, light and time can and cannot do to the stone.
A refractometer reads 1.833, and the specific gravity sits near 4.50–4.60; cleavage is none.
Where yttrium Aluminium Garnet comes from
The recognised sources are Czochralski-grown, chiefly in China, Russia and the USA.
That is the whole list. A single source makes supply fragile and makes any claim of a second origin worth questioning.
How yttrium Aluminium Garnet is treated
Wholly synthetic with no natural counterpart — YAG has never been found in nature, so the name should never be presented as a gem species. It was the main diamond simulant before cubic zirconia took over in the late 1970s, and remains the workhorse solid-state laser host.
None of this is a problem when it is said out loud. It becomes one the moment it is left out.
What yttrium Aluminium Garnet is confused with
The usual confusions are Diamond, Cubic zirconia, GGG and Glass.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.833 and specific gravity 4.50–4.60 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What yttrium Aluminium Garnet is used for
Yttrium Aluminium 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
Yttrium Aluminium Garnet is 8–8.5 on the Mohs scale, with none cleavage.
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 yttrium Aluminium Garnet costs
Indicative pricing for yttrium Aluminium Garnet is 2–20 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 yttrium Aluminium Garnet treated, and how?
Wholly synthetic with no natural counterpart — YAG has never been found in nature, so the name should never be presented as a gem species. It was the main diamond simulant before cubic zirconia took over in the late 1970s, and remains the workhorse solid-state laser host.
Where does yttrium Aluminium Garnet come from?
Czochralski-grown, chiefly in China, Russia and the USA. That is the only commercial source.
Is yttrium Aluminium Garnet hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 8–8.5 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 yttrium Aluminium Garnet cost?
Indicatively 2–20 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 yttrium Aluminium Garnet confused with?
Most often Diamond, Cubic zirconia, GGG and Glass. A refractive index of 1.833 and a specific gravity near 4.50–4.60 separate it quickly.
What is yttrium Aluminium 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
Looking for yttrium aluminium garnet?
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 yttrium aluminium garnet