Garnets are not just one type of stone but are a set of closely related minerals differing in chemical composition. The various species of garnet include pyrope, almandine, andradite, grossular, and spessartine. Other types of garnets are rhodalite (a variety of pyrope and almandine), demantoid (a variety of andradite), and tsavorite (a variety of spessartine). Though known best for their varying shades of red, garnets actually come in a variety of colors. The word garnet is derived from the word pomegranate because the deep red varieties of the gemstone resemble the seeds of the pomegranate fruit.

Garnets were often used for jewelry in the Victorian times, during the 18th and 19th centuries, and have been found dating back to 3100 B.C. in Egypt. As with other red stones, legends link red garnets with blood. They were believed to stop bleeding and cure inflammations and were supposed to prevent bloodshed by smoothing discord between enemies. Ancient druggists ground garnets into poultice powder, red for fever and yellow for jaundice. It was also believed that wearing garnets would protect travelers from danger and a garnet losing its luster indicated impending doom.