Gemstones are extremely popular and used in a variety of settings – with the most popular use for gemstones being jewelry. Necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings and many other pieces of jewelry can be fitted with a gemstone to make it exquisite, beautiful or valuable. The Garnet gemstone is a very popular gemstone amongst people born in the month of January – due to the fact that this particular gemstone has been dubbed as the birthstone of January. The Garnet gemstone has a rich history and is often called the “Gem of Faith”. These gemstones feature a unique hue, and their discovery date back to ancient times. Let’s take a closer look at the Garnet gemstone, including where it came from, what values it represents and what jewelry pieces it goes with best.
Garnet, The January Birthstone
Garnet gemstones have a rich heritage, dating back to times in ancient Egypt. In these times, the Egyptians considered these stones to be a symbol of life itself. It is not only the ancient Egyptians who hold a rich history with the Garnet gemstone – Romans also valued these gemstones. These gemstones were used as signet rings in the third and fourth centuries by Romans. Small garnets were used to represent those individuals who were of royalty in ancient Victorian times. The Garnet gemstone is also believed to be blessed with immense power, and people wearing these stones are believed to experience good fortune, but only if they do good.
The term “Garnet”, used to describe these gemstones, have been derived from “Granatum”, a Latin word that means “seed”. This is mostly due to the fact that Garnet gemstones are often thought to represent the seeds of the Pomegranate fruit – possessing a similar red hue as these seeds.
The Garnet gemstone ranks seven on the Mohs Hardness Scale, which means the stone is relatively durable and may be appropriate for everyday wear, depending on the particular type of jewelry it is fitted in. It ranks lower than Topaz and, of course, the Diamond, but higher than Orthoclase and Apatite gemstones.
Garnets can be found in a large variety of sizes and shapes; thus creating an opportunity to use these gemstones in different types of jewelry – they can even be purchased loose; thus forming part of a gemstone collection or to be used later on in a custom piece of jewelry. Garnets are often fitted into pairs of earrings since they offer the perfect durability for this particular type of jewelry. They can be found in many other jewelry pieces as well, and make a perfect addition to a ring. Popular Garnet gemstone shapes often used in rings include a cushion cut and other rectangular cuts. Garnet stones are also often found in halo settings. While the Garnet gemstone represents January as a birthstone, it is also often provided as a gift to individuals celebrating their second anniversary of being married.
Garnet gemstones have been observed on the red carpet, being worn by Kate Beckinsale and many other celebrities. The largest of these gemstones ever to be found was discovered in Norway. The stone weighed more than 35 tons.
Conclusion
The Garnet gemstone dates back to ancient Egypt, and is through to bring about power to those who wear it. Its unique color makes it valuable and famous. This stone also represents people who were born in January, the month that marks the start of a new year. In this post, we discussed the Garnet gemstone in more details, we looked at its origins and we also considered some appropriate jewelry pieces it blends in with appropriately, making them perfect gift choices for individuals born in January.
