The January Birthstone – Garnet
A new year means a new month and in turn, a new birthstone. This time we are looking at the January birthstone.
What is the January Birthstone?
The January birthstone is the Garnet.
Garnets have a long and interesting history. Dating back to 3000 B.C. they were once worn around the necks of Pharaohs due to the Ancient Egyptians believing that they were prized possessions in the afterlife. Today, they are also known to be the gemstones of both the 2nd and 18th wedding anniversaries.
What are Garnets?
The word garnet comes from the Greek word ‘Garahatus,’ meaning ‘seed like’ and refers to the pomegranate seed. It was most probably named this due to its colour.
Garnets are commonly thought to be of a deep-red, however they can actually range in colour with many being orange or pink, and some even green and brown!
Red-coloured garnets are known as Bohemian Garnets, which have become increasingly more available since deposits in Europe were found containing them in the early 16th century. Green garnets, however, were incredibly rare up until 1967 when geologist Campbell R Bridges discovered a deposit containing them in the Tanzanian mountains.
There are said to be six ‘species’ of garnets. These are Pyrope, Almadine, Spessartine, Grossular, Uvarovite and Andradite.
It is said that garnets are meant to bring luck, love, money and healing to anyone associated with it. They are also said to light up at night to protect the wearer from nightmares and accidents.
Credit: multicolour.com, granat-cz, starrby.in