Pyrope is the only member of the garnet family to always display red colouration in natural samples, and it is from this characteristic that it gets its name: from the Greek words for fire and eye.

Chrome pyrope, and Bohemian garnet are two alternative names, the usage of the latter being discouraged by the Gemological Institute of America.

Pyrope found in association with diamond commonly has a Cr2O3 content of 3–8%, which imparts a distinctive violet to deep purple coloration (often with a greenish tinge) and because of this is often used as a kimberlite indicator mineral in areas where erosive activity makes pinpointing the origin of the pipe difficult.

In petrographic thin section, the most distinguishing features of pyrope are those shared with the other common garnets: high relief and isotropy.

Garnets tend to be less strongly coloured than other silicate minerals in thin section, although pyrope may show a pale pinkish purple hue in plane-polarized light.