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.
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What color of gemstone is 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.
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.
What birthstone is for Capricorns in January?
The tenth sign of the zodiac is Capricorn. The garnet is the birthstone for Capricorns. The red gemstone garnet is quite valuable. The meaning of garnet is dedication and originality. Born between December 21 and January 19 are Capricorns.
What birthstone falls on January 7th?
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.
Capricorn Crystal: What is it?
One of the main birthstones for Capricorn and the customary stone for January is red garnet. Its energy is all about vigor, desire, and assurance. As it enables the discharge of any resentment, regret, shame, or guilt related to love, sex, or relationships, it is one of the greatest stones to heal from emotional trauma or heartbreak. Red garnet is thought to boost a low libido or balance an overactive one because it awakens the sacral chakra, the energetic center linked to pleasure, creativity, and sexuality. Physically, this energizing stone is supposed to increase circulation and remove toxins from the body. Red garnet, a stone of the earth element, has a specific affinity for Capricorn; its earthy energies support Capricorn’s highly driven and goal-oriented temperament while keeping them grounded.
What gemstone is auspicious for Capricorns?
The most significant lucky stone for Capricorn inhabitants is garnet, commonly referred to in Hindi as Raktamani. This stone possesses a number of natural qualities that have a tremendous impact on Capricorn inhabitants.
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.
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.
Garnetis it a crystal?
Red is frequently the first color that people think of when they hear the word garnet. This stone, however, is not limited to just that. The Latin word granatus, which means grain, is whence the word garnet got its name. The small red crystal grains that make up garnet deposits are embedded within rocks.
Its crystallography exhibits a variety of shapes, including isometric, trapezoid, and dodecahedron. The sporadic ones, on the other hand, are Cube and Octahedron.
One of the most complicated stones among gems is garnet. There are numerous species of garnet listed. Almandine, Demantoid, Andradite-Grossular, Hessonite, Transvaal Jade, Malaia Garnet, Chrome Pyrope, Umbalite, and many other kinds of garnet are among the most well-known. Strangely, garnet is never mined or acquired in its pure form.
What is the cost of garnet?
Real garnets in rich green, orange, and purple colors can cost as little as $500 per carat for inclusion-filled stones and as much as $7,000 for flawless, larger stones in the best color. 100 grams of heavily included common red garnet can be purchased for $20.
Garnet Value (Price) per Different Units
We are happy to describe costs of faceted garnets in carats and grams because the value of gem-quality garnets is rarely quantified in ounces, pounds, and kilograms. Raw material costs are stated in ounces, pounds, and kilograms.
TIP: As you can see, garnet costs can vary greatly depending on the grade of the stone, and to make matters worse, the garnet specimen is false. See the article below for the key distinctions between genuine garnets and imitations:
Garnet Value (Price) per Different Colors
The values of garnet for various colors are listed in this table. The most expensive garnets are those that are orange, green, or purple.
Do you know what determines the color of rocks? Discover more in the article below. It is extremely amazing why different rocks have varied colors.
Garnet Value (Price) per Different Type
This table provides an overview of various garnet varieties’ raw and faceted components.
Here is a brief description of the three most challenging and usually misunderstood garnet types so that you can comprehend the various garnet varieties better:
- Uncut garnet: crystal fragments
- Red garnet from the Czech Republic is known as bohemian garnet.
- Pinkish-orange blend of pyrope, almandine, and spessartine garnets known as Malaya garnet
- pure golden andradite garnet, or topazolite
What hue is a Capricorn?
Scorpio (Dec. Capricorns are seen as being orderly, dependable, grounded, practical, and diligent workers. Brown and gray, which are both neutral tones and essential components of every wardrobe or home, are their power colors.
