Evidence of garnet jewelry dated back to ancient civilization where garnet jewelry was found buried with mummified corpses as prized possessions for the afterlife.
Top left picture:
3,000 year old Pectoral of Kheper Scarab: A carved red garnet in the shape of scarab beetle forms the centerpiece of this Egyptian breastplate.
Top right picture:
Middle Kingdom Pectoral and Necklace of Princess Sithathoryunet: The cloisonne pectoral is inlaid with 372 carefully cut pieces of semiprecious stones including garnet.
Bottom picture:
Blown up picture of the pectoral
Garnets were also prized in ancient Rome jewelry from hair ornaments, earrings, necklaces, armbands, to rings. Seal rings, as in signet rings with carved garnets, were used to stamp wax that secured important documents.
1st row
Hair ornament (220 – 100 BCE)
Earring (2nd – 1st century BC)
Seal ring (300 – 100 BC)
2nd row
Necklace (3rd – 2nd century BC)
Armband with Hercules Knot (3rd – 2nd century BC)
3rd row
Intaglio ring (3rd – 2nd century BC)
Ring (3rd century BC)
Garnets were also very popular gemstones with the Germanic tribes used for cloisonné inlay work.
Top:
Gold and garnet-inlaid mounts from a sword harness found at Sutton Hoo burial (7th century CE)
Bottom:
Kingston brooch (7th century CE)
Jem Boxx 