Our Treasure of the Month for March is a gem of a treasure! Actually, we are being accurate, as it is a small faceted red garnet.
While gemstones are often found among wreck sites of the 1715 Fleet, garnets seem to be more scarce than other stones. Gems found on the 1715 Fleet include emeralds, diamonds, amethysts, coral, and pearls. While gemstones are found mostly in jewelry, raw gemstones are not uncommon.
Our little stone is quite tiny, weighing in at 0.45 carats. However, its small size does not take away from its beauty.
Both a geologist and a certified gemologist identified this stone as a garnet. It was also ascertained that the style of the faceting was consistent with work performed by 18th-century jewelers. Circumstantial evidence would support the proposition that these garnets originated in Mexico, inasmuch as Mexico is known for producing high-quality garnets.
Our featured treasure was found in 2025 at the Corrigan’s Beach wreck site by Sal Guttuso, Director of Operations for 1715 Fleet — Queens Jewels, LLC. Sal, who captained the MV Gold Blooded, found this garnet among gold olive blossom fragments and gold dust (see image). He also found a small garnet at the same location in 2024.
Database research conducted by 1715 Fleet — Queens Jewels, LLC, revealed only a handful of documented red gemstones discovered since the 1960s.
The last two such discoveries were in June and July of 1969, at the Rio Mar wreckLocated in Vero Beach opposite the Rio Mar Golf Course. The capitana of the Terra Firma Fleet it was the largest galleon of the eleven Spanish ships leaving Havana harbor in 1715. Her official name wa... More site. Interestingly, these stones were identified on the ship’s inventory as rubies, but they are more likely garnets.
Special thanks to Sal Guttuso (Member #226), Director of Operations, 1715 Fleet — Queens Jewels, LLC, who provided the images and informational material that were used in the text for this post.
