January birthstone - Garnet
Garnet is a beautiful and versatile gemstone, celebrated for its rich red hues and long history in jewellery. Known for its captivating colours and durability, garnet has been a favourite gemstone across the ages. It adorned the tombs of pharaohs in ancient Egypt, flourished in ancient Greece and Rome where it was used in signet rings and intaglios, and was regarded as a symbol of wealth and status. During the Middle Ages, it was commonly used in religious artefacts and by royalty, who valued it for its protective and empowering qualities. For centuries, garnet was believed to exist only in shades of deep red, but with advancements in gemmology, a wider spectrum of colours has been discovered. Today, we can enjoy garnets in nearly every colour of the rainbow.
In the 19th century, garnets experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly with the discovery of new varieties such as the Bohemian garnet, which became iconic in Victorian jewellery.
Derived from the Latin word granatus, meaning grain or seed, garnet refers to the red seeds of the pomegranate. While the red variety has historically been the most recognised, garnet’s full colour spectrum has become more widely appreciated in recent years, offering gemstone collectors and jewellers an exciting array of options.
Tsavorite, the most famous vivid green variety, derives its colour from traces of chromium and vanadium, which give it its intense, emerald-like green hue with remarkable brilliance. Demantoid garnets also display a rich green colour, ranging from yellow-green to a deeper, more vibrant green, thanks to their high chromium content, and are known for their fiery brilliance and sparkle. Malaya garnets are prized for their peachy orange to pinkish hues, with some stones showing a mix of brown and yellow, resulting from the presence of iron and trace amounts of other elements. Spessartine garnets are found in shades of orange to reddish-orange, with the most vivid stones sometimes referred to as "mandarin garnets." This colour is primarily due to the presence of manganese. Andradite garnets are available in a variety of colours, including green, yellow, brown, and black, while Topazolite is yellow-green due to the presence of both chromium and iron. Melanite, a black variety of andradite, owes its dark colour to high concentrations of titanium. Almandine garnets, the most common, range from deep wine red to brownish red, with iron being the primary cause of their rich red and purplish tones. Grossular garnets, appearing in green, yellow, orange, and even colourless varieties, derive their colour from chromium (in green varieties like Tsavorite) or manganese (in Hessonite, which is known for its warm brownish-orange hues). The rarest of garnets is a blue variety – blue garnet, which in fact is a colour-change variety. Its blue hue is due to the presence of vanadium. This unique garnet exhibits a striking colour shift, appearing blue-green in daylight and purplish under incandescent light, similar to alexandrite.
As January's birthstone, garnet holds special significance, symbolising strength, vitality, and protection. Its vibrant hues brighten grey British winter days, offering a splash of colour and energy boost to those who decide to wear it.
In addition to their beauty, garnets are believed to possess powerful healing properties. They are thought to promote vitality, emotional balance, and protection. Known for strengthening the physical body, garnets are said to offer support during stressful times. They are also believed to enhance creativity, stimulate passion, and encourage self-confidence. Garnets are often associated with love and commitment, making them a popular choice for relationship-related jewellery. Additionally, they are said to cleanse and energise the chakras, promoting well-being and a sense of grounding.
Its vibrant tones help to brighten the grey British winter, offering a splash of colour and energy during the colder months.