Garnet Jewelry FAQ: Expert Answers by Wollem

We currently offer free shipping on all orders within the European Union. If you are located outside the EU and would like to place an order, please contact us at [email protected] or through the contact form on our website — we'll be happy to assist you with a personalized shipping solution. — Wollem Jewelry's shipment policy

All orders are processed and shipped within 1–2 business days. Once dispatched, delivery within the EU typically takes 3–5 business days depending on your location. You will receive an email confirmation with a tracking link as soon as your order is on its way.

Once your order is shipped, you’ll receive a tracking link by email to follow your parcel’s journey until it reaches you.

All Wollem shipments are fully insured and tracked. In the unlikely event that your package is lost during transit, please contact us as soon as possible. We will work directly with the shipping carrier to investigate the issue and resolve it promptly. Once the loss is confirmed by the carrier, we will arrange either a replacement of the item (subject to availability) or a full refund. Your purchase is protected until it safely reaches you.

Resizing availability depends on the specific design and construction of the piece. Please note that we do not offer resizing for online purchases — if you need a different size, you would need to return the product and re-purchase in the desired size. Some designs do not allow space for modifications at all, as structural changes can increase the risk of stones becoming loose. If you have a question about a specific piece, please contact us before purchasing and we’ll advise you directly. — Contact Us

We offer returns within 14 days of delivery. To initiate a return, contact our customer service team via email at [email protected] or through our online return portal at wollem.com/contact-us. Provide your order number and reason for return, and we’ll send you a prepaid return shipping label. Returns are inspected within 2–3 business days of arrival, and refunds are issued to your original payment method within 10 business days of approval. — Wollem Jewelry Return Policy

Yes. We’re happy to exchange items for a different size, style, or product of equal or greater value. Follow the standard return process and indicate you’d like an exchange. Once we receive and inspect your return, we’ll ship your replacement at no additional cost (domestic orders only). If exchanging for a higher-priced item, you’ll be charged the difference.

Wollem offers a 2-year warranty on all products, covering manufacturing defects. The warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, damage from chemicals or cosmetics, lost stones due to accidents or negligence, or repairs carried out by unauthorized parties. If your jewelry arrives damaged or defective, contact us immediately with photos and we will arrange a free return and send a replacement or full refund.

The Wollem flagship boutique is located at U Obecního domu 1090/2, Prague 1 — steps from the Municipal House (Obecní dům) and the Powder Tower, in the historic center of the city. Open daily from 10:00 to 20:00. The nearest metro station is Náměstí Republiky on Line B. — Find Us on Google Maps

Yes. Wollem operates a global e-commerce platform with shipping across Europe. Online pricing matches boutique pricing. The full current collection is available at wollem.com.

Yes. Wollem provides immediate Tax-Free (VAT refund) processing in-store for all non-EU residents. This applies to purchases made at the Prague boutique. Ask a member of staff at the time of purchase — the process is handled directly in the shop.

Wollem offers pieces across a range of price points. Sterling silver designs start at approximately €200. 14k gold collections range from €500 into the thousands. High-jewelry masterpieces with diamonds reach €10,000 and above. All pricing is fully transparent and identical between the Prague boutique and the website — there are no negotiated or tourist prices.

Garnet jewelry refers to pieces set with garnet gemstones — a mineral family most commonly known for its deep red varieties. While garnet exists in colors ranging from green to orange to black, fine red garnet is the most historically significant and widely worn. It is valued for its color richness, brilliance, and durability. Wollem specializes exclusively in high-quality red garnet jewelry using individually selected stones.

Garnet is traditionally classified as semi-precious, but this distinction is largely a historical convention rather than a meaningful quality indicator. High-quality garnets — particularly fine Bohemian pyrope — can match precious gemstones like ruby in color intensity and optical performance. The value of any garnet depends on its specific color, clarity, cut, and origin. Only a small percentage of available garnets meet fine jewelry standards.

Garnet is more abundant in nature than ruby, which makes it more accessible in price. However, this does not mean fine garnets are easy to find — stones with excellent color and clarity are still rare, and the selection process required to source them is rigorous. For buyers seeking the visual impact of ruby at a more reasonable price point, high-quality red garnet is one of the most compelling alternatives available.

Yes. Garnet has a Mohs hardness of 6.5 to 7.5 depending on the variety, which makes it suitable for everyday jewelry including rings, earrings, and pendants. It is resistant to normal wear when properly set. Wollem’s micro-pavé settings are specifically engineered for durability — the precision-carved stone seats and black rhodium-plated prongs are designed to secure each stone for long-term daily wear, not just occasional use.

Dark appearance in garnets is typically caused by a combination of low-quality rough material, poor cutting that does not maximize light return, and high iron content that absorbs light rather than reflecting it. Lower-grade garnets can appear nearly black in indoor lighting. High-quality garnets — particularly well-cut Czech pyrope — maintain vivid red color and strong brilliance under both natural and artificial light. This is one of the primary reasons Wollem rejects 80% of rough stones before cutting begins. — The 20% Rule: Why We Reject 80% of the World's Rough Garnets

Several factors are driving renewed interest in garnet. Precious gemstones like ruby and sapphire have become significantly more expensive, making high-quality garnet an increasingly attractive alternative. At the same time, fine jewelry producers are applying more sophisticated techniques — precision cutting, modern settings — to garnet that were previously reserved for diamonds and rubies. The result is that garnet is being taken seriously as a fine jewelry category rather than a secondary option.

Garnet is not traditionally classified as an investment gemstone the way diamonds or certain colored stones are. However, fine garnet jewelry from a reputable, vertically integrated house holds long-term appeal because of its craftsmanship and material quality. Well-designed pieces retain their visual and structural integrity over decades. The growing recognition of garnet as a fine jewelry category — rather than a secondary stone — also supports its long-term relevance.

Czech garnet is a variety of pyrope garnet historically mined in the Bohemian region of the Czech Republic. It is distinguished by its deep pomegranate-red color, high refractive index, and color stability — it does not shift to brown or purple tones under artificial light, which many other garnets do. Bohemian pyrope has been used in European jewelry since at least the 14th century and remains one of the most recognized gemstones associated with Czech cultural heritage.

Genuine Czech pyrope is naturally small — typically just a few millimeters across. Its color remains vivid red under both daylight and indoor lighting without darkening or shifting hue. Stones sold as ‘Czech garnet’ that are large, inexpensive, and dark are almost certainly almandine garnets from India or glass imitations. A reputable seller will be able to tell you the specific garnet variety and its origin. Ask whether the base metal is solid gold or sterling silver — mystery alloys are a further warning sign.

Both are red garnets but they differ in origin, optical properties, and typical size. Czech pyrope is naturally small, vivid red, and color-stable. Almandine garnets — commonly sourced from India, Brazil, or Africa — tend to be larger, darker, and more affordable. Most tourist-market pieces sold as ‘Czech garnet’ in Prague use almandine stones rather than genuine Bohemian pyrope. The distinction matters for both quality and long-term value.

The 20% Rule is Wollem’s internal selection standard: only 1 in 5 rough garnets meets the criteria required for use in their collections. Every stone is evaluated for color saturation, clarity, cutting potential, and structural integrity before cutting begins. Stones that fail any criterion are rejected immediately. This process — applied before a single stone is cut — is what separates Wollem’s material from commercially graded garnet used in most jewelry on the market. — The 20% Rule: Why We Reject 80% of the World's Rough Garnets

Four things to evaluate: color (vivid red that holds under indoor light, not dark or muddy), clarity (clean to the eye, no visible inclusions), setting precision (stones flush and symmetrical, no gaps or irregularities), and base metal (solid 14k gold or 925 sterling silver — not plated mystery alloys). Ask the seller about their stone sourcing process. A brand that can explain specifically how and why they select their stones is a stronger signal of quality than any marketing claim.

Wollem is a vertically integrated family house — we source rough garnet directly, cut stones in-house to proprietary specifications, and set them in their own atelier. This means quality control at every stage is our responsibility, not a third party’s. We apply the 20% Rule before cutting, use micro-pavé technique with sub-millimeter stones, and finish each piece with black rhodium on the prongs to maximize the garnet’s visual impact. We specialize exclusively in garnet — it is not one category among many.

Every authentic Wollem creation contains a hidden detail: the world’s smallest round-cut garnet set secretly within the jewelry’s architecture — invisible to anyone who does not know to look for it. It is a mark of craftsmanship and a private reference to the brand’s five-decade obsession with the stone. Only the owner knows it is there. — The Hidden Signature: Why Every Wollem Piece Carries a Secret

Two techniques define Wollem’s approach. The first is micro-pavé setting: sub-millimeter hand-cut garnets set so closely together that the metal between them disappears, creating a continuous surface of red light they call the skin of fire. The second is the Art of Invisibility: black rhodium applied specifically to the microscopic prongs holding each stone, making the metal setting visually recede so the garnet appears to float. — Micro-Pavé vs. Traditional Settings: A Technical Deep Dive into Modern Garnet Artistry — The Art of Invisibility: How Wollem Uses Black Rhodium to Perfect the Garnet