January Birthstone Guide: The Garnet
What Is the January Birthstone?
The January birthstone is the garnet; it’s also the gemstone for the second wedding anniversary (“Garnet”).
What Are the Characteristics of the January Birthstone?
While the red garnet is the most commonly known garnet, garnets are actually a set of closely related minerals that form a group of gemstones in almost every color (“Garnet Description”). You can find garnets in the deep red that they’re most known for, as well as greens, oranges, pinkish oranges, purplish reds, and even some blues (“Garnet Description”)!
A demantoid is a famous (and rare) green garnet. A rhodolite is a more well-known purplish-red garnet, and an orange garnet is called a spessartine or spessartite. What makes them all garnets is that they share the same crystal structure, while their chemical composition varies creating the differences in color (“Garnet Description”).
What Is the History of the January Birthstone?
The word garnet derives from the word gernet, a 14th century Middle English word meaning “dark red.” Gernet comes from the Latin granatum, which means “seed,” because of the garnet’s similarity to beautiful red pomegranate seeds (“January Birthstones”).
The garnet has been very popular throughout history.
As the garnet is such a durable gemstone, people throughout history have used this beautiful gemstone for jewelry and inlays.
Historians have found pieces of garnet jewelry dating as far back as the Bronze Age. Egyptians in 3100 BC used the garnet as inlays in their jewelry and carvings. They referred to it as the symbol of life (“Garnet History”).
Persians considered the January birthstone a talisman from nature’s forces, like thunder and lightning. They believed it signaled approaching danger by turning pale (“Garnet”).
The Romans in the third and fourth centuries also used the garnet gemstone as a talisman for protection when going into battle and to ward off pestilence and plague. Ancient healers and wise men would place garnets into wounds for their healing power (“Garnet History”).
Ancient Romans often used garnet gemstones in signet rings, and the nobility greatly favored them during the Middle Ages (“Garnet History”).
During the Victorian Era, gemologists created jewelry with garnets that mimicked its pomegranate namesake, with clusters of tiny red gems forming larger statement pieces (“Garnet History”).
What Are the Purported Metaphysical Properties of the January Birthstone?
Some believe that the garnet brings joy and strength to the wearer; it's also believed by some that it can provide energy, courage, and assurance. Many people associate the garnet with greater will power, self confidence, and success.
Believers in the metaphysical properties of crystals say the garnet has the power to help you free yourself from negative behaviors. They say it can help you combat discouragement, depression, and failure.
Some people also believe that the January birthstone promotes self respect and helps you face obstacles.
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Learn more about birthstones in our Birthstone Guide.