The best Rhodolite garnets are truly amazing to see. Especially in the bigger sizes. The stone in the photo is a 44+ carat amazing gem. This particular stone was mined in Sri Lanka which produces some unexpected gem varieties in its gem gravels. “Gem gravels” you say? Yes, lots of the gems found in Sri Lanka are in alluvial deposits where the stones are truly in gravel form and all rounded and stream worn.
From Sri Lanka we’ve obtained many different types of gems: Star Sapphires (both blue and pink), Rhodolite garnets, Cat’s-eye chrysoberyl, Alexandrite, Blue sapphire, Pink sapphire, “Common” chrysoberyl, Cat’s-eye alexandrite, Andalusite, Yellow sapphire, and Spessartite (garnet). Not bad for a little Island down at the tip of India.
One more thing. A couple of the meals we’ve experienced in Sri Lanka were some of the best anywhere in a long lifetime of world travel. Our first Chai tea experience was in Sri Lanka in 1981. They are ahead of their time!
John and Laura Ramsey • Gems at Large • Ramsey Gems 
Color is fabulous. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Phyllis, Thanks for the compliment. What is amazing is that great of a color in so large of a garnet. At a quick glance even most experts would guess “tourmaline.” The lack of double refraction would give it away soon to an expert however. Most garnets that large would be as dark as the inside of Carlsbad Caverns without the electric light. Rhodolites that large and that light in color are hundreds of dollars per-carat and found only very rarely.
Happy Holidays to you and yours—- John & Laura