Garnets are the birthstone for January and come in various colors, from deep reds and purples to vibrant oranges and verdant greens. They are known for their durability, brilliance, and affordability, which makes them an excellent choice for jewelry.
The spiritual energies associated with garnet make it a great birthday present as it carries protection, courage, and strength, all qualities that will guide someone through the year ahead, no matter what life throws at them. The most common types of garnets include almandine, spessartite, pyrope, grossular, and rhodolite.
Almandine garnets are known for their deep red coloration and have been used as jewelry since ancient times. They're believed to have spiritual properties such as love, generosity, and trustworthiness.
Spessartite garnets exhibit vibrant orange tones ranging from pinkish-orange to intense reddish-orange hues caused by manganese deposits within its crystal structure. Spessartites are one of the more expensive varieties in today's market. In addition, they are associated with energies like joyfulness and optimism.
Pyropes show off an intense blood-red hue that ranges from dark purple to near-black shades; these stones symbolize warmth and comfort.
Grossulars come in different shades depending on the iron and manganese deposits within the stone. Higher amounts of iron produce brown and green colors. The presence of chromium creates a rich green shade. The two most well-known varieties of grossular garnets are hessonite and tsavorite.
- Hessonite garnets typically feature yellowish-brown coloring with hints of orange or reddish brown. They are also known as "cinnamon stones." Hessonites are said to offer protection alongside courage and strength.
- Tsavorite garnets are named after the Tsavo Game Reserve in Kenya, the region where these garnets were first discovered in 1967. The deeper and brighter the shade of green, the more valuable they are. Tsavorites are thought to be a stone of benevolence, vitality, prosperity, and compassion.
Finally, there is rhodolite – a type of pyrope-almandine mix usually characterized by its deep pink and raspberry hues – which is said to bring passion into one's life along with creativity & joy!
Garnets are generally rated between 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, making them durable enough for everyday wear as earrings and pendants. With garnet rings, take care to avoid bumps or scratching the stone.
Garnets are found in Europe, Asia, North America, South Africa, and Australia. They are truly an international gem. So whether you're looking to surprise someone on their birthday or want to treat yourself, consider investing in some beautiful garnet jewelry.
You can view all of our garnet jewelry here.