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Gorgeous Garnet The January Birthstone

Gorgeous Garnet The January Birthstone

January Birthstone

It’s 2017! Your resolutions still firmly resolved, your planner’s blank pages stretch out endlessly, wonderfully blank, begging you to fill them with all the great things you’ll achieve this year. You’re still basking in the glow of all your holiday gifts and plenty of holiday cheer with your loved ones. Maybe, like us, you still have a carol or two floating around in your brain, and you’re still using eggnog in your coffee, rather than creamer (it’s not expired yet!)

And brisk January weather makes us all feel energized and ready to embrace this new year. Along with it, a beautiful birthstone! The January birthstone is garnet.

Garnet, from the Latin “granitum” (meaning “like grains”) got its name from its red hue and resemblance to pomegranate seeds.

As far as we can tell, Ancient Egyptians started using garnet in jewelry pieces as early as 3100 BC. However, some historians argue that garnet mining dates back to the pre-historic era.

Garnet is a highly durable gemstone (6.5-7.5 on the Mohs scale, depending on the specific variety) found all over the world, including Wyoming, Czech Republic, Greece, Russian, Tanzania, Madagascar, Sri Lanka and India. Most of the garnets in today’s market come from mines in Africa.

Garnet traditionally symbolizes peace, prosperity and good health. Superstition dictates that it brings its wearer eternal happiness, health and wealth.

While garnet’s rich, red hue is its most famous iteration, it actually has the widest variety of colors among any gemstone. Check out this chart from Geology.com that breaks down each color & variety of garnet, its specific composition, and its hardness:

 

Garnet Minerals
MineralCompositionSpecific GravityHardnessColors
AlmandineFe3Al2(SiO4)34.207 – 7.5red, brown
PyropeMg3Al2(SiO4)33.567 – 7.5red to purple
SpessartineMn3Al2(SiO4)34.186.5 – 7.5orange to red to brown
AndraditeCa3Fe2(SiO4)33.906.5 – 7green, yellow, black
GrossularCa3Al2(SiO4)33.576.5 – 7.5green, yellow, red, pink, clear
UvaroviteCa3Cr2(SiO4)33.856.5 – 7green
The compositions listed above are for end members of several solid solution series. There are a number of other garnet minerals that are less frequently encountered and not as important in industrial use. They include goldmanite, kimzeyite, morimotoite, schorlomite, hydrogrossular, hibschite, katoite, knorringite, majorite, and calderite.

(The Table Above Scrolls Horizontally)

So garnet is versatile, durable, and gorgeous. But don’t take our word for it. Let us show you some of our favorite pieces of garnet jewelry!

10K Yellow Gold Garnet and Diamond Heart Ring

January Birthstone

Stunning antique garnet and diamond cocktail ring

January Birthstone

Temple St. Clair 18k Gold Rhodolite Garnet Heart Ring

January Birthstone

14k White Gold Diamond Garnet Drop Dangle Earrings

January Birthstone

Kabana 14k Yellow Gold Garnet Diamonds Ring

January Birthstone

18k White Gold Princess Checkerboard Cut Garnet Ring

January Birthstone

January Birthstone

14k Yellow Gold Garnet Heart Ring

January Birthstone

14k Yellow Gold Garnet Cluster Ring

January Birthstone

14k Yellow Gold Marquise Garnet Diamond Ring

Are you a January baby? Or do you just happen to love garnet? Either way, this gorgeous gemstone makes for a perfect gift for yourself or your favorite someone with a birthday this month!

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