January Birthstone Jewelry: The Garnet

For those who are born in January, they are fortunate enough to have the wondrous garnet as their birthstone. The garnet comes in many varieties and are most known for their distinctive deep red to brown color tones.

These gorgeous stones are a must-have gemstone for January babies, those celebrating their second anniversary, and for all who appreciate nature’s abundance of rich hues available in the wide world of gems. Learning the basics of the garnet is not only intriguing but will set you out on the right direction when you are shopping for these colored stones.

The garnet stands out from the crowd when compared to other semi-precious gemstones because of their deep saturated shades. Garnets range from transparent to semi-transparent (“clear” or see-through to almost see-through), to opaque (cannot see-through, cloudy or included with growth patterns). There are numerous varieties of garnet and many names you may hear – Merelani mint garnet, demantoid garnet, lotus garnet, Malaya garnet, Mandarin garnet, amaranth garnet, and the terms used below, just to name a few.

1. The garnet was often set into the crowns made for royalty. They were a favorite stone among kings and queens. Often thought to have looked like pomegranate seeds, they were named from the Latin word “granatus” or “granatum,” which translates into English as “seedlike.” They were reportedly sometimes even mistaken for rubies at first!
2. Garnets are believed to have many metaphysical properties. Some of these include promoting health to the wearer, safety, and self-empowerment when worn or carried in the pocket, handbag, or worn near the heart. Garnets are associated with the heart, circulatory system, and lungs.
3. Garnets are the designated stone for some of the chakras including the solar plexus and base chakra and are often times used to clear negativity by professional energy practitioners. They are also said to promote wealth and increase fortune once the negative energy has cleared, leaving in its place positivity.

The garnet is a softer stone that can scratch easily, similar to tanzanite. For that reason, garnets are set in channel, bezel and gypsy style settings because the setting protects the stone. Garnets look amazing in rings, but they are not suitable for everyday wear – especially for those who are hard on their jewelry. Tsavorite and Mandarin garnet stones are possible options for engagement rings, but we highly recommend meeting with a gemologist or registered jeweler as you consider your options to make sure you get the right stone and the right setting.