January Birthstone

January's birthstone is the garnet. It is often mistakenly thought that all garnet stones are red. Red garnets are the most common, but in fact, garnet comes in a wide variety of colours ranging from black, green, clear and numerous shades of red. The variety of colours is due to metal impurities such as iron, aluminum and manganese.


Color is noted next to birth stone name.

Modern Birthstone - Garnet (Red)
Traditional Birthstone - Garnet (Red)
Mystical Birthstone - Emerald (Green)
Ayurvedic Birthstone - Garnet (Red)
Other Birthstone - Rose Quartz (Pink)

Green garnets are the most rare and therefore highly prized. Emerald green and colorless garnet are next rarest, followed by pure red garnets. The name garnet is derived from the Latin "granatum" meaning pomegranate" because the crystals resemble the red color and seed-like form of this fruit. They can be found in many places around the world including the US, South America, Australia, India, Asia and Spain. Most often garnet can be found in small rocks in streams where the surrounding rock has been eroded away.

Garnets were once believed to hold medicinal powers. In Medieval times, it protected its wearer against poisons, wounds and bad dreams, and cured depression. The Garnet was considered to be a gem of faith & truth. Garnets were used medicinally as a remedy for hemorrhage and inflammatory diseases. Asiatic warriors believed that glowing garnets, used as bullets, inflicted more severe wounds.

Diamonds and Gemstone Jewelries | Garnet Jewelry

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