The gemstones that correspond to a birth month are known as birthstones, and each one has a special symbolism and historical significance. Birthstones have been popular since prehistoric times, when people thought they possessed extraordinary abilities like luck, good health, and prosperity. Normally, just one birthstone is linked with each month, but as you’ll see below, some months have more than one birthstone. The birthstones that are currently connected to particular birth months may not be the same ones that were utilized in the past. They did not discriminate between gems the way we do today since color was considered to be the most significant characteristic of a gemstone back then. For instance, they were incapable of telling a Ruby from a Garnet. The American Gem Society has approved the modern birthstone list that is represented by our list.
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January | Garnet
The birthstone for January is garnet, which is mined in a variety of hues. It is regarded as a wonderful gift to represent friendship and trust, and comes in a variety of vibrant hues, including the flaming orange of Mandarin Garnet, the lush green of Tsavorite Garnet, and the most well-known color, Pyrope Garnet.
What is the recognized birthstone for January?
The gorgeous and varied garnet is a lucky birthstone for those who were born in January. Although red is the most prevalent color of garnets, they also come in a stunning array of other hues, such as orange, yellow, purple, and vivid green. Even garnets have been known to shift from blue to purple depending on the illumination. The ability of the garnet birthstone to bestow the bearer with good health, riches, and happiness is seen by some to be its genuine value.
What hue is a January baby?
Beautiful deep red garnet is the recognized birthstone for January, making deep red the birthstone color for the month.
There are no alternate January birthstones because January is one of the rare months with just one birthstone.
For the star signs of Capricorn (December 22January 20) and Aquarius (January 21February 19), garnet is one of the Zodiac birthstones.
The carnation and snowdrop, which are the birthflowers for January, are additional birthday emblems.
Garnet jewelry is a heartfelt present for a January birthday as well as for a second wedding anniversary.
The word garnet is derived from the phrases “deep red” and “seed,” presumably because the crystal resembles red pomegranate seeds in both shape and color.
Watch the brief educational movies below to learn more about the background, meaning, and characteristics of this gorgeous gemstone.
What stone corresponds to January 31?
Garnets are frequently thought of as red gems. Garnets actually come in a variety of hues. They originate from all across the world, and since the Bronze Age, people have used them as jewelry. Nowadays, most garnets are not stones of gem quality. Instead, they are largely employed as abrasives in industry. To create beautiful jewels, only rocks with the ideal size, color, and clarity are cut.
The Latin word granatus, which means seed, gave rise to the name garnet. Small garnet crystals resemble the crimson seeds of the pomegranate, suggesting that the phrase may be a reference to the fruit.
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Characteristics of the January birthstone, garnet
A set of silicate minerals with slightly varied chemical makes up garnets. Garnet crystals may include different concentrations of calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, aluminum, and chromium depending on the environment in which they developed. Due to these variations, garnets are found in a variety of hues, opacities, and hardnesses that range from 6.0 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale.
The majority of garnets are created during metamorphosis, which is the structural alteration of sedimentary rocks like shale under extreme heat and pressure. These circumstances exist where tectonic plates converge. Under these circumstances, minerals recrystallize into structures that are more tolerant of the high pressure and temperature present. Some turn into garnets. Garnets can also be found, though to a lower level, in igneous rocks like granite.
Garnets are hard, so even when weather erodes the metamorphic and igneous rocks they crystallized in, they largely maintain their shape. They end up as sediment, which eventually turns into soil, sand, or sedimentary rock. These formations provide garnets to miners since it is simpler to remove the crystals. Australia provides almost half of the world’s supply. India, China, and the United States are further significant sources.
Garnets come in many colors
Because specific components are present, garnets can have various colors. Almandine crystals are dark red, brownish-red, and black because it contains iron and aluminum. Magnesium and aluminum are the causes of the pyrope garnets’ red color. Manganese and aluminum give spessartine its orange hue. Calcium and aluminum are present in grossular, which results in primarily green crystals as well as red, yellow, and cinnamon-brown ones. Due to calcium and iron, andradite garnets are red, yellow, brown, and green in color. Bright green gems are produced by the unusual calcium chromium garnet type known as uvarovite.
The opacity of garnets ranges from absolutely opaque to translucent. Some garnets have inclusions, which are microscopic fragments of other rocks that reflect light to give the stone a star-like pattern. Additionally, inclusions can make the gemstone appear to change color in certain lighting situations.
Garnets in history
Garnets have been used by humans since the Bronze Age. Jewelry made of red garnet and dating to 3100 BCE was found by archaeologists in the graves of Egyptian pharaohs.
The jewels were esteemed by both ancient Greeks and Romans. They wore garnet jewelry, such as signet rings with cut garnets for sealing documents with wax.
An extensive collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork was uncovered in Staffordshire, England, in 2009 by a man using a metal detector. The objects, which go by the name Staffordshire hoard, are from the sixth and seventh centuries. 3,500 pieces of jewelry set with garnets are among them.
The discovery of garnet reserves in Bohemia (in the modern-day Czech Republic) at the beginning of the 16th century ignited a thriving garnet jewelry industry in Europe. Through the Victorian era, the gemstone was still in demand, but by the turn of the 20th century, demand had decreased.
Mythology behind the January birthstone
Garnets and other red gemstones like rubies and spinels are heavily entwined throughout early history and mythology. These crimson gems, known as carbuncles, were difficult for early jewelers to differentiate from one another.
Numerous urban legends are connected to garnets. Garnets were thought by ancient warriors to bring victory. They served as the Crusaders’ traveling defense against injuries and mishaps. Ancient Asian warriors, however, thought that burning garnet bullets caused more serious wounds. The Hanza tribesmen used garnet bullets instead of lead ones to attack British forces in 1892 during fighting along the Kashmir border because they thought they were more potent.
Like many costly stones, garnets were once thought to have therapeutic properties. People once believed that garnets could cure depression and protected the wearer from wounds, poisons, and unpleasant nightmares. They treated fever with red garnets and jaundice with yellow garnets.
Learn about the birthstones for other months of the year:
The garnet is the birthstone for January. Garnets come in a variety of colors, however red is the most common. These include yellow, green, orange, brown, and black.
Is Aquarius amethyst or garnet?
The eleventh sign of the zodiac is Aquarius. Garnet and amethyst are the primary birthstones for Aquarius. The red stone symbolizing strength is garnet. Purple amethyst is known as the stone of tranquility.
Is garnet a valuable gemstone?
A semi-precious gemstone that comes in a variety of colors is garnet stone. The best-known quality of this January birthstone is that it has healing powers.
Is garnet a pricey gem?
Prices for garnet stones can vary greatly because they come in such a wide range of colors. They typically cost between $500 and $7000 per carat for larger, flawless stones, depending on the presence of imperfections. Demantoid is the most expensive garnet, with a price that is towards the top of the range.
Are there two birthstones for each month?
Although each month has a single birthstone traditionally, certain months have numerous birthstones. This fact does cause some confusion, but the variety of possibilities for some months was developed to give customers a choice of less expensive selections in addition to the more typical, pricey stones.
What shade is the birthstone for Aquarius?
Relationships are said to be strengthened by the birthstone color for Aquarius, which also gives its wearer courage. Amethyst is the birthstone for anyone born in February or under the water-bearer horoscope sign. This elegant shade of purple is associated with majesty.
Which stone represents Aquarius?
Amethyst is the fortunate stone for Aquarius. Wearing this stone can have a significant impact on a person’s relationships, personality, and career.