“...Garnet is believed to bring good fortune to the wearer…”-Unknown
Hello everyone! We are here to begin our new blog series for 2021 where we break down each month’s birthstones as they come, and give a little history on where each stone comes from.
First up, we have Garnet being the birthstone for those born in the month of January!
What is Garnet?
Many of you may be asking yourself, “what is a garnet?” and that is not an uncommon question. Garnet refers to a group of silicate minerals that have been used since the Bronze Age for practical & materialistic practices.
Because “garnet” is used to refer to a group of minerals it can be mined in several different color combinations, however, a darker red stone referred to as, “Pyrope Garnet” is the most common type found in gemstones.
History
If you were to break down the origin of its namesake it can be traced back to latin roots where it shares a reference to pomegranates for their similarities in color & shade.
Ancient civilizations often believed that garnets held the power to light up the night sky, and to protect their owners from nightmares. Historically, many travelers carried these gemstones with them in an attempt to protect themselves from accidents while away from home.
Similarly, many historical rulers from the pharaohs of Egypt to the emperors of Rome often adorned Garnet jewelry to protect them from the evils of far off lands.
The Modern Age
In today’s modern world Garnet can be found in several different regions, but Bohemia is the world’s primary source of red Garnet stones. Other shades of the stone can be found all across the globe. From green Demantoid Garnets in Russia, to yellow Spessartine Garnets found here in Southern California.
There are a countless number of mines across the world where Garnets can be found. They include mines from: Brazil, Myanmar, Iran, Russia, India, & even Sri Lanka!
Physical Properties
Garnets tend to be more of a middle ground when it comes to hardness in modern jewelry. While not as strong as Rubies or Diamonds, Garnets still make great stones to be worn on a daily basis. We recommend Garnets be used in earrings & pendants to avoid contact with other harder gems.
Garnets not only are the birthstone for those whose birthdays land in January, but are also seen as a common stone given on a 2nd wedding anniversary. From a pair of stud earrings to the perfect statement necklace we can’t recommend Garnet enough for that special someone!
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