January birthstoneGarnet - Healing fire and cleansing light Safety in travel, victory in battle, protection from snakebites and loyalty in love - these are just a few of the meanings attributed to January's birthstone, the garnet. While it doesn't enjoy the same wealthy reputation as diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds, the garnet is one of the most richly detailed stones when it comes to legends and myths. The name of the stone, garnet, comes from the Latin word for pomegranate, whose glistening, jewel-like seeds the most common form of garnet resembles. Because of that association, garnets acquired many of the qualities and myths associated with the seeded fruit. Like the pomegranate, the garnet is said to confer fertility and bring righteousness and healing - making it the perfect stone to be given as an engagement gift. In fact, long before diamonds took that title, garnets were a traditional engagement stone. Rich, deep red is the color most often associated with garnet despite the fact that garnets are found in a literal rainbow of colors. Red, orange, yellow, green, gold, purple - even blue, though you'll find that many references state there are no blue garnets. That's because until the discovery of Alexandrite garnet in Madagascar, there were no known blue garnets. The Madagascar garnets change color in different lights. Most commonly - thought that is a misnomer, for they are the most rare of garnets - they are a muddy green to grayish blue in afternoon sunlight. By candlelight or under incandescent light, though, their hue changes to a shimmering smoky blue. A true blue color-change garnet is valued at thousands of dollars per carat. Throughout history, garnets have held a place in ritual symbolism. It is said that garnet was one of the twelve stones in Aaron's breastplate, representing the tribe of Judah, and that King Solomon wore garnet adornments when he went into battle. Noah chose a garnet to hang in the Ark, and it illuminated his way through the floods. It was perhaps this Biblical reference that made garnet the stone worn by travelers and soldiers to promise them a safe return home. But even before Biblical times, garnets were worn and treasured. Garnet necklaces have been found in graves in Czechoslovakia dating back to the Bronze Age. Garnet stones have been buried with warriors and nobles in Ancient Egypt (3100 B.C.), Sumeria (2100 B.C.) and Sweden (2000 B.C.). Plentiful throughout the world, and easily found just beneath the earth's crust, garnets were worn as jewelry among the Aztec and Mayans, Native Americans, aboriginal Australians and Asians. Beyond ornamentation, though, garnets were believed to have many uses. Noah was not the only historic figure to have used a garnet as illumination. It's said that garnets, which are often found along riverbanks after violent storms, are created by lightning, and that they hold a spark of captured lightning within their depths. Hold a garnet to the light, and it's easy to see where this belief sprang from - even uncut and unpolished, a gemstone quality garnet seems to have a heart of flame. Garnets are also believed to have the power to staunch blood, to offer protection and healing from poisons and to purify the liver. Since ancient times, people have believed that garnets can help spark mental acuity and clarity, lighten the mood and bring peace and solace to the grieving. Over the years, garnets have acquired the meaning of fidelity, loyalty and love. One use of garnets that is surprisingly at odds with the rest of its healing and enlightening reputation is the use to which it was put by Asiatic tribes. In 1892, the Hanza used bullets fashioned of garnet against British troops, believing that garnet would be more deadly than lead. Garnets have been worn by royalty and peasants alike. Because they are so plentiful in the Earth's crust, small garnets are not prohibitively expensive - but their enduring beauty and hardness make them a gemstone fit for a king - or a queen. Both Queen Victoria and Mary Queen of Scots are said to have favored garnet jewelry during their reigns. Chemically, garnets are not one stone, but an entire family of gems. There are six species of garnet - almandine (wine red), pyrope (brownish to orange red), spessartine (orange brown to golden brown - root beer color), andradite (yellowish brown to green), grossular (colorless to green, including yellow, brown and pink) and uvarovite (brilliant green). They all share a common cubic crystalline structure that gives them superior refractive qualities, making them brilliant, fiery stones. Garnets are also among the hardest gemstones, measuring between 7.0 and 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. Beauty, variety, hardness, clarity and tradition - the versatile garnet is a fitting birthstone for the month of January, which represents both practical Capricorns and dreamy Aquarians. |
