Second Anniversary Stone: Garnet
The second wedding anniversary stone is garnet, a durable deep-red stone. Here's what it is, how it holds up to everyday wear, and how to turn it into a piece worth keeping.
Key takeaways
- The second anniversary stone is garnet on both the traditional and modern lists, according to the International Gem Society.
- Garnet is best known as a deep red stone, but it is a whole family: green tsavorite and orange spessartite are garnets too.
- Garnet is reasonably tough, with a Mohs hardness of about 6.5 to 7.5, which makes it a sensible everyday stone.
- Garnet is also the January birthstone, so a garnet piece can mark both an anniversary and a winter birthday.
- Because it is affordable relative to its beauty, garnet lets you buy a larger, better stone for a given budget.
- Vanhess sets and remakes garnet pieces in-house at our Coquitlam studio, so a ring, pendant, or pair of earrings can be built to fit.
What is the 2nd anniversary stone?
The second anniversary stone is garnet, and helpfully the traditional and modern lists agree, so there is no confusion to sort out this year. Garnet sits at year two on both the classic list and the modern anniversary list, confirmed by the International Gem Society. When most people picture garnet they see a deep wine red, and that is the classic look, but the stone has more range than its reputation suggests.
What garnet actually is
Garnet is not a single mineral but a family of closely related ones, which is why it turns up in more than one colour. The familiar deep red comes from the almandine and pyrope types. Bright green garnet, called tsavorite, and warm orange garnet, called spessartite, are the same family in different chemistry. Red is by far the most common and the most affordable, so it is what you will usually see in an anniversary piece. Garnet's hardness runs from about 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, which measures scratch resistance. That upper end is genuinely useful: it means garnet holds up to daily wear better than softer stones and can go into a ring without too much worry. You can see how that hardness compares in the IGS durability guide, and read more on the stone itself on our garnet page.
Why garnet for the second year
Garnet has been prized for a very long time, and its deep red has long been linked with warmth, steadiness, and constancy. Those associations fit a second anniversary well: the first year is done, the newness has worn off a little, and the relationship is settling into something real. Red is the colour of that steady warmth. We would not sell you garnet on folklore alone, but as a symbol it is a sensible fit for the milestone, and the fact that garnet is also the January birthstone makes it a natural double gift for a winter-born partner.
Choosing a garnet piece
Garnet's real advantage is value. A good red garnet costs far less per carat than a comparable ruby or sapphire, so your budget buys a bigger, cleaner stone. That opens up options that would be out of reach in a pricier gem. A garnet cocktail ring with a generous centre stone looks rich without a heavy price. A pendant lets the deep red sit against the skin where it catches light well. Stud earrings in garnet are an easy everyday piece that suits almost anyone.
- Everyday ring: garnet's hardness holds up, especially in a protective bezel or half-bezel setting.
- Statement: a larger red garnet gives real presence for a modest spend.
- Something different: green tsavorite or orange spessartite for a partner who does not want red.
On care, garnet is one of the easier coloured stones. Warm soapy water and a soft brush keep it clean, and it does not need the special handling that soft or porous stones demand. Avoid harsh knocks on the setting and it will serve for decades. If you want the red at its deepest, look at the stone in daylight and in warm indoor light before you buy, because some garnets shift slightly between the two.
Because Vanhess has a goldsmith working on-site in Coquitlam, a garnet piece does not have to be picked off a tray. We can set a stone you choose into a mount built around it, match a garnet to a partner's existing pieces, or rework older jewellery into something new. If a made-to-order piece suits the occasion, our bespoke anniversary work is where to begin. For the full run of years and their stones, see the anniversary stones guide.
Turn your second anniversary stone into a piece you’ll wear
Bring the year, the stone and a rough budget. Our on-site goldsmith in Coquitlam will design it with you — reset a stone you already own, or build something new around the right gem.
Prefer to talk? Call our studio at (604) 653-6449.Frequently asked questions
What is the 2nd anniversary stone?
Garnet is the stone for the second anniversary on both the traditional and the modern list, so there is no disagreement to resolve. Garnet is best known in deep red, though it also comes in green and orange.
Does garnet only come in red?
No. Deep red is the most common and most affordable, but garnet is a family of minerals. Green garnet is called tsavorite and orange garnet is called spessartite, and both are genuine garnets in different chemistry.
How hard is garnet and is it good for daily wear?
Garnet sits at about 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. The upper end is respectable, which makes garnet a sensible everyday stone, including in rings, especially when set with a little protection around the edge.
Is garnet also a birthstone?
Yes, garnet is the January birthstone. That makes a garnet piece a neat double gift for someone born in January, marking both the second anniversary and their birthday.
Is garnet expensive?
Garnet is one of the better-value coloured stones. A good red garnet costs far less per carat than a comparable ruby or sapphire, so your budget buys a larger and cleaner stone.
How do I care for a garnet piece?
Garnet is easy to look after. Warm soapy water and a soft brush keep it clean, and it does not need the special handling that soft or porous stones require. Just avoid hard knocks to the setting.
Which garnet colour should I choose?
Red is the classic choice and the best value. If your partner does not want red, green tsavorite or orange spessartite are striking alternatives, though they cost more. Look at the stone in both daylight and indoor light before deciding.
Can Vanhess make a custom garnet piece?
Yes. We have a goldsmith on-site in Coquitlam, so we can set a chosen garnet into a mount built around it, match a stone to existing jewellery, or rework older pieces into something new.