Garnet - the stone of people born in January

Welcome stone lovers and dive deep into the captivating world of garnet with us. Garnet as a January stone - the stone of all people born in January, regardless of the sign of the Zodiac, has charmed us for centuries with its rich history and deep symbolism. From ancient civilizations to modern society, this gemstone holds a special place in many people's hearts. Come with us to explore the mesmerizing allure and splendor of garnet, uncovering its origin, meaning and the stories woven into its luminous depths. Discover the passionate red hues that have symbolized love and devotion throughout time, and discover how this semi-precious stone continues to dazzle and inspire us today.

Garnet – meaning and history

The name "garnet" comes from medieval Latin, from the word granatus, which means granular and refers to the color of the pomegranate Lat. Punica granatum. Garnets have been used since the Bronze Age as precious stones and abrasives. Necklaces studded with red garnets adorned the pharaohs of ancient Egypt. In Rome garnet was made into signet rings and used to mark wax that preserved important documents.Red garnets were also preferred in the Middle Ages by the clergy and nobility.

Garnet is actually a group of several minerals. Five of them - pyrope, almandine, spessartine, grossular and andradite - are among the sought-after semi-precious stones in jewelry. Pyrope and almandine occur in shades of purple to red, spessartine is found in exciting orange to orange and yellow tones, while andradite is mostly yellow to green (the green variety of andradite is called demantoid). Grosular can have the widest range of colors, from colorless to yellow to red-orange and orange-red, as well as a strong, vibrant green called tsavorite.

Among the most famous pieces of jewelry is an antique diadem made of Czech pyropes, which is located in the Smithsonian National museum of natural history in Washington, DC. the time when this gem was made.

Pyropes are named for their deep red color from the Greek. pyropos, which resembles fire and is among the reddest of all garnet types. Their site is in the Český středohoří, see our article How to recognize Czech garnet, which was until the 19th century. their main source.

Download photo: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/explore/collections/geogallery/10002685

Are you interested in the traditional use of garnet? According to Indian astrology, garnet helps eliminate negative feelings (anxiety and guilt) and instills greater self-confidence to promote creative thinking and peace of mind. In ancient times and the Middle Ages, precious stones, including garnet, were considered to be medicines for inflammatory diseases and to calm an angry heart. They were worn in jewelry as talismans to encourage love and devotion.

Garnets are among the traditional gifts for wedding anniversaries, namely for the 2nd anniversary and possibly the 6th anniversary as an alternative to amethyst, see the article on our website Traditional gifts for wedding anniversaries.

Red color symbolism

The color red embodies passion, energy, firepower, courage and love. It is the color of passion, energy and life. It is the color of motivation, fire and blood. Red is a color that can raise blood pressure, it is a call to action, a color that calls for a fight and a warning. It is the color of the basic – root chakra. In Feng Shui, it symbolizes the energy of fire, enthusiasm, warmth, warmth and activity. It personifies reason and perseverance, supports positive thinking and zest for life.

Grenades shrouded in myths and legends

Garnet is known as a warrior's stone - a talisman for the Crusades and as a conqueror's stone. The Merovingians (the first dynasty ruling the Frankish Empire from 481 to 751) brought the garnet from Ceylon (Sri Lanka) along the Silk Road and had it made into beautiful jewelry in which the semi-precious stone was combined with amber.

Garnet was used to increase libido and enhance sexual desire by applying it to intimate areas.
Legends also include a lion carved into a garnet, which was considered a panacea, protection against diseases and dangers, especially when traveling.

Where are the grenades located?

Grenades come from many different regions and countries. Bohemia was the primary source of the red pyrope grenades popular especially during the Victorian era. Today, it is Africa that supplies much of the world's garnet. Namibia now produces demantoids and most of the bright green tsavorite on the market comes from Kenya, Tanzania and Madagascar. Namibia and Tanzania are also key sources of rich orange to yellow spessartine garnets. Little Three in Southern California was also a mining area for many years. Grenades are also found in Myanmar, Brazil, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, among others.

STONE CLEANING

Different types of garnets range between 6.5 and 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. This means that this stone is more prone to damage than rubies, sapphires and diamonds. While not all garnets are good candidates for everyday wear, they are ideal for earrings, brooches and pendants. Think about how you store your garnet jewelry. If you let it rub against harder gems—again, think diamonds, rubies, and sapphires—they can get scratched. Conversely, garnet can scratch softer gems, such as opals and pearls.

A safe way to clean garnets is with warm soapy water and possibly a soft brush, as well as ultrasonic cleaners - except for stones that have cracks or fillings. Steam cleaning is not recommended. Do not wash the jewelry in the sink so that it does not slip off and fall into the trash, if you need to remove dirt, use a toothpick that will not scratch the jewelry.

You can find all methods of cleaning and recharging stones in our article here.

We have the jewelry from our suppliers verified for the authenticity of the stones by the Czech gemological laboratory s.r.o., you can find the certificates here.

Are you interested in birth month stones? Learn more here.

We wrote the article for you on January 20, 2024.

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