Garnet is a birthstone for the month of January. Its name originates from Latin word “Granatus,” which means grain or seed, and the gem was called so because of the gemstone’s resemblance to a pomegranate seed. Its reference dates back to 3100 B.C., when the Egyptians used this gem as an inlay in various jewelry. It was believed that the red garnets promote sincerity and relieve anger, promote and preserve health, as well as bring honor and protect in traveling. The family of this gemstone is one of the most exciting families in the gem world, best known for their blood red color. First ever mined in Sri Lanka, this stone is also found in Africa, Australia, India, Russia, South America and the United States.
Hard, durable, often very brilliant, this gem offers a great versatility. It scores 6.5-7.5 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness. Although, most commonly known for its red color, it comes in a variety of other hues, including muted yellows, vibrant oranges, rosy pinks, lime greens, and violet. This gemstone occasionally displays asterism in the form of four-rayed stars. However, star garnets are very rare and generally opaque stones.
Gifting a piece of garnet jewelry is thought to be the symbol of love and the desire for the loved one’s safe travel. Garnets are quite popularly used in the engagement rings, earrings, pendants, and bands due to the vivid color and versatility. I would recommend to concentrate on the quality and not the size of the gem when shopping for garnets. Also, pay attention to the clarity–they should be eye clean. A stone that has many inclusions will look cloudy.
Here are some of my favorite garnet pieces that we sell on our website:
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