Rhodolite Garnet and Diamond Ring in 14K

Rhodolite garnet, with its lovely purplish pink color got its name in 1898 when these rhododendron-color garnets were discovered in North Carolina. Like rhododendron, the name comes from the Greek word rhodon, which means “rose colored.” A unique blend of pyrope and almandine garnets with a rosy blossom shade, rhodolite is sometimes overlooked by people who think of garnet only as small dark red gems. Like other shades of garnet, this brilliant deep pink gem is the birthstone for January.

14K white gold is the most popular white precious jewelry metal. Its pale glow is the perfect setting for cool-toned gems. Since gold is naturally golden yellow in color, to make 14K white gold, 58.5% gold is alloyed with white metals, usually silver, zinc, palladium, or nickel. These metals also improve the hardness, durability and affordability of white gold jewelry, since pure gold scratches fairly easily. To get that bright shine, most white gold jewelry is also plated with rhodium, a platinum group metal.