January’s birthstone, the garnet, is not actually a singular stone. It’s an entire mineral family! Garnets come in a wide range of colors, though they are typically seen in a deep red. They get their name from the French word for seed, as they bear a resemblance to pomegranate seeds. Garnets, like other red gems, were once associated with the concept of ‘lifeblood’ and thought to promote health.
Tsavorite garnets were found by Campbell Bridges near Tsavo National Park in Kenya.
Demantoid garnets were used by the imperial Russian jeweler for intricate designs in jewelry.
A stylish red garnet bead necklace found in a grave in Egypt is more than 5,000 years old.
Garnet gemstones are in many different colors from deep reds to the rare greens.
Often, the red garnets do not have inclusions. The other colors usually do have visible inclusions.
It is normal to see garnets cut into the standard shapes to be place in jewelry settings.
Some garnets might be rare in the larger sizes, but most can be found in a variety of weights.
