I just completed this billiard in my combination carve/blast finish. The top came out beautiful and the garnet really sets this piece off. While it added several hours to the completion time of this piece I was very pleased with the results. The stone is a genuine 3MM Almandine Garnet and it is one of my favorites for color. The black stain and the Ebonite give a traditional look and the deep red from the Garnet gives a nice contrast and it is a sitter. Coal Black stain, hand cut Ebonite mouthpiece w/Delrin tennon, hand made solid sterling silver” Garnet set” fitment. Thank you very much for looking and your consideration of my work.