The Garnet: January Birthstone
History, legend and gemstone lore
The word garnet is derived
from the latin word for Grain. It is thought
that this referred to the grainy look of the
garnet crystals in their raw form or possibly
to the red and grainy looking fruit of the
pomegranate. Garnets are referenced in ancient
Egyptian and Roman texts and have been used
for thousands of years. Garnets have been
used not only as jewelry, but as a cure-all
and protective talisman. Deep red garnet jewelry
was very popular in the 18th and 19th centuries
Source, Composition,
Jewelry and Variety
The name Garnet actually
refers to a group of minerals with similar
crystalline formation and chemical composition.
Some of the more popular varieties include
the Pyrope, a Black to ruby red variety.
The most popular of the Victorian era red
garnet jewelry is fiery red pyrope from what
is now the Czech Republic. The violet red
shade of Pyrope's from North Carolina have
been called Rhodolite. Some sources
list Rhodolite as an alternative to the Garnet
as the January birthstone, but in fact is
a type of Garnet. The blue color change variety
of Pyrope, which changes color under different
types of light, was discovered in 1998 in
Madagascar and is very rare. The Green variety,
Tsavorite, from Kenya and Tanzania
is one of the more sought after Garnets. The
orange yellow variety of Spessartite
is found in Madagascar. The Uvarovite
is a rare bright green variety found in Russia
and Finland. The Demantoid is a prized green
variety from the Urals.
Buying Garnet Jewelry
Most jewelers will carry
the red and violet colored varieties of Garnet,
selling attractive garnet jewelry for anywhere
from fifty to a few hundred dollars. You can
find a wide selection of Garnet jewelry and
other gemstone jewelry from reputable jewelers
and online jewelry stores.
Be sure to Compare Jewelry
Stores
For rare varieties
and unique gemstone jewelry it
may be best to find a specialty
custom jeweler who can source
fine gems and customize your jewelry. We
can help. You may also wish to try buying garnet jewelry (Sponsor Link) from a reputable online store which carries a variety of birthstone and gemstone jewelry.
