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 birthstone actually falls on 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 gemstone has the date January 21?
Garnet. The Middle English word gernet, which means “dark red,” was used to describe garnet in the 14th century. The name, which derives from the Latin word granatum, which meaning “seed,” was given to the gemstone because it resembles the red pomegranate seeds.
What color is a birthday in January?
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.
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.
January 24th’s birthstone is what?
The birthstone for January is garnet. Although most people associate garnet with a red gem, it actually comes in a variety of colors, including green (tsavorite and demantoid), orange (spessartine and hessionite), purple (rhodolite), yellow (mali and topazolite), pink (malaya), red (almandine and pyrope), black, and almost every other color (melanite). These are only a few of the countless hues and types of garnet. Even opaque garnets, which are typically cut as cabochons, exist (pink hydrogrossular and green grossularite). People born in January have various color options thanks to the range of garnet colors.
What stone was my birthstone?
A birthstone is simply a gemstone that is linked to a person’s date of birth. Wearing a birthstone is thought to bring luck and good health. Depending on their connection to the planets, several gemstones are thought to possess supernatural abilities. Many societies used to associate a particular gemstone with births occurring during each sign of the zodiac, but throughout time, this custom was changed to correspond with calendar months.
Birthstones have their origins in ancient astrology, and over time, several different lists of birthstones have been employed. The one that is most widely used now is based on a list that the US jewelry industry initially made public in the 1950s.
According to calendar months, birthstones are categorized as follows:
January BirthstoneGarnet
This stone is thought to protect its wearer from harm. A garnet also represents unwavering loyalty and friendship. This stone has a long history of being connected to blood purification and is thought to ward off food poisoning, snake bites, and hemorrhaging.
March BirthstoneAquamarine
This gemstone was thought to protect seafarers and ensure a safe journey. The calming hue of aquamarine is thought to soothe the temper, enabling the wearer to maintain composure and objectivity. Additionally, it is thought that this stone delays the effects of aging.
May BirthstoneEmerald
This stone symbolizes rebirth, and those who wear it are said to receive wisdom, luck, and youth. Some people think that wearing an emerald will grant them patience, progress, and wisdom. Furthermore, it is renowned for its capacity to convey deep love.
July BirthstoneRuby
Rubies are thought to ensure health, intelligence, fortune, and success in love. They also excite the senses and the imagination. Ruby is thought to make the wearer intelligent and provide protection from all kinds of misfortunes.
August BirthstonePeridot
According to legend, peridot possesses magical abilities and healing qualities that can ward off nightmares and grant the wearer strength, influence, and a happy year. Additionally, this diamond was worn to ward off evil spirits.
September BirthstoneSapphire
The wearer of sapphire and their loved ones are shielded from harm and enmity. Priests in antiquity thought sapphires were able to foretell the future. The gem is linked to contentment and calm.
October BirthstoneOpal
Through the ages, opal has stood for optimism, innocence, and purity. It was said that wearing it would improve the wearer’s vision. Additionally, it was believed to drive away evil spirits and to favor kids, entertainment, friendships, and emotions.
November BirthstoneCitrine
The wearer’s hope, enthusiasm, and warmth are supposed to be encouraged and guided by this golden gemstone, which is also said to boost vitality and health. Citrines have also been employed as a talisman against the plague, bad skin, and evil thoughts, as well as an antidote for snake poison. They are thought to facilitate digestion and help the body get rid of impurities.
December BirthstoneTurquoise
This gemstone is said to bring happiness and luck to the wearer. Turquoise was a hue that Native Americans connected to the blue sky and the green ground.
Are garnets rare?
The most expensive and rarest garnet is demantoid, which is also one of the most uncommon colored gemstones. It is notable for its fire and brilliance. The most expensive demantoid is from Russia and may be identified by special byssolite inclusions with a horsetail pattern. The most costly hue is a bright green, and stones weighing more than one carat are quite uncommon. Approximately $1,000 per carat is the starting price for Russian demantoid. There is also less priced demantoid from Africa available without horsetail components.
Malaia Garnet, commonly referred to as Malaya Garnet or Imperial Garnet, is a pyrope-almandine-spessartite combination. From slightly pinkish orange to reddish orange to yellowish orange, it comes in a variety of colors. Tone ranges from being light to being dark. The Umba River valley, which straddles the border between northern Tanzania and southern Kenya, is where malaia garnet was initially found in the early 1970s. In southern Tanzania, deposits of a related substance were also discovered in 1993. The highly uncommon Pink Malaia Garnets retail for $1,000 to $3,000 per carat, while fine quality stones in bigger sizes sell for $300 to $400 per carat.
What shade of stone is garnet?
The gorgeous and varied garnet is a lucky birthstone for those who were born in January. While red is the most prevalent color of garnets, they also come in a stunning array of other hues, including 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.
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 onyx a birthstone for January?
The month of January marks the beginning of the new year and is rife with demands we frequently place on ourselves, such as New Year’s Resolutions. In addition, we are working to complete unfinished business from the previous year and launch new initiatives for the next one. We need inner and physical strength if there is one thing right now.
What a blessing that one of the four birthstones for January babies is Black Onyx, often known as the Stone of Strength. For those born in January, the gemstone not only strengthens but also provides spiritual inspiration. All of the January birthstones are suitable for aiding at this time of year, in fact. Jasper, Chalcedony, and Garnet make up the other three birthstones. Today’s discussion will center on Black Onyx and the amazing therapeutic benefits it may provide.