January Birthstone - Garnet
January’s birthstone is garnet, a beautiful stone that comes in a myriad of colours, from green Tsavorite Garnet and orange Mandarin Garnet to the most common, and widely recognised Pyrope garnet (Pyrope is from the Greek pyrōpos, which means “fiery-eyed”). Garnet has a rich history, having been used to decorate the Pharoah’s of Ancient Eygpt and were often used in signet rings in ancient Rome.
The word “garnet” is derived from Latin “granatum,” meaning seed, as it so resembles the red seeds of the pomegranate. In the 14th Century, we saw “gernet”, a Middle English word, meaning dark red.
There are many stories that have contributed to the legend of garnet. It is said that garnets light up the night and protect their owners from nightmares, and they have long been carried by travellers to protect against accidents far from home. The garnet can bring peace, prosperity and good health to the home. Some even called it the “Gem of Faith,” and it’s believed that to those who wear it and do good, more good will come.
The garnet also symbolized deep and lasting friendship.
