YOUR STORY - Get That Garnet Sparkle

January: the month of new beginnings, good intensions and probably the perfect time to get that new special sparkle in your life… Is it a coincidence that the gemstone Garnet is the birthstone of January and people know it specially by its intense and captivating sparkle? Let’s take a glance at this mystical birthstone of January and discover its magic character.

Sparkling Birthstone

Garnet is January’s traditional birthstone and is actually the name of a group of minerals that come in a rainbow of colours. They range in colour from deep red and dark pink/purple to yellow, orange, and green. If you’re lucky you might even find an incredibly rare blue garnet! Although garnets are a blend of mineral species with many commonalities, the most common colour is red, from rust coloured to deep violet-red. Its sparkle is so intense and captivating that it is even referred to as fire. In soft lighting such as candlelight, you can best see its exceptional sparkle.

Meaning en benefits

The word “garnet” comes from the word gernet, meaning “dark red” and is derived from Latin granatum, which means seed. People call the gemstone like this because it is very similar to the red seeds of the pomegranate. According to Indian astrology, garnet fights negative feelings, gives you more self-confidence and boosts creativity. It symbolizes purity, truth, love, friendship and compassion. In ancient and medieval times, people thought gems like garnet were remedies for illness and rage…The list with benefits goes on and on. No wonder people have been using Garnets since the Bronze Age and are still very popular today.

History

The mystical Garnet has been highly valued around the world and has been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones or even as an instrument to sharpen metal. Even the pharaohs of ancient Egypt threated themselves with colliers full of red garnets. And in ancient Rome they used garnet rings so they could stamp the wax with it that secured important documents. A special stone with a rich history.

Hard but gentle

The different types of garnet range between 6.5 and 7.5 on Mohs scale of hardness. This means that this birthstone is more likely to damage than our earlier described gemstones rubies, sapphires and diamonds. Still they are perfect for earrings, brooches and pendants. But watch out how you store them in your jewellery box…If you let them rub against your diamonds, rubies and sapphires they could get scatches. Garnet at the other hand can also scratch softer gems, such as opals or pearls.

Lost and Found

Garnet is found all over the world, including Greece, Czech Republic, Russia, Wyoming, Tanzania, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and India. Mandarin Spessartite Garnets, aka Mandarin garnets, are considered to be the most rare and expensive of all garnet gemstones. India is one of the biggest producers and you can also find large mines in Africa, South America and Russia.

But don’t get lost…you can also get that Garnet birthstone right here at byJacky ;)

So is it your birthday in January or do you just want to start your year by getting or giving something special…
Than get that Glorious Garnet Sparkle!