Investing in new jewelry can be exciting, but it can also be a challenge. If you aren't accustomed to purchasing authentic gemstones, then identifying a quality pair of garnet earrings can seem like a daunting task. Fortunately, there are some simple things that you can look for to find the best pair of garnet earrings to add to your collection.

Here are three things to consider as you evaluate garnet earrings in a jewelry store.

1. Consider the color of the stones.

While most people conjure images of stones that have a deep red color when thinking about garnets, it's important to realize that these semi-precious stones come in a variety of colors. Garnets are a family of gemstones with similar mineral compositions, but when the ratio of these minerals differs, the stones take on a different color.

Garnets can be yellow, orange, green, or even purple in color. It's important that you take the time to learn about the different colors that garnet gemstones come in prior to making a purchase so that you can decide which type of garnet is best suited to match your unique personal style.

2. Look for inclusions.

Gemstones are essentially crystals that form in nature over time. As these crystals are forming pockets of air, small cracks, or other obstructions can become incorporated into the structure of the crystal. These types of obstructions are commonly referred to as inclusions.

Although garnets are cut and faceted to minimize the appearance of inclusions, it's important that you check each stone in a pair of earrings with a jeweler's loop prior to purchase. The loop will allow you to see inclusions that are not visible to the naked eye. Inclusions affect the value of the garnets, so you want to ensure that the stones are priced appropriately.

If you are satisfied with the appearance of the gemstones to the naked eye, then investing in a pair of earrings with more inclusions can be a cost effective way to add garnets to your jewelry collection.

3. Ask about the metal.

Garnet gemstones are set in metal when creating a pair of earrings. Since garnets are considered semi-precious stones, the metal setting may be silver or gold plated rather than solid metal. It's important that you ask about the metal setting as you try to determine the overall value of the earrings you want to purchase.

Plated settings will be more affordable than solid metal settings, but if the garnets are valuable (like rare blue garnets or stones with no inclusions), then you will want to upgrade to a more valuable metal setting made from platinum or solid gold.

Purchasing garnet earrings can be exciting. Be sure that you pay attention to the color of the stones, any inclusions within the stones, and the metal used to create the setting when adding garnet earrings to your jewelry collection.