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.
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JanuaryGarnet
Garnet, the birthstone for January, is said to protect its owner when they are traveling. Because the gem resembles the color and shape of a pomegranate seed, the name “garnet” is derived from a term that means “seed.
FebruaryAmethyst
Amethyst, the birthstone for February, is thought to improve communication and offer the wearer bravery. Only royalty could wear the jewel in the past. The amethyst was believed to protect against intoxication by the ancient Greeks. Amethyst is really derived from the Greek word amethystos, which means “sober.”
MarchAquamarine, Bloodstone
Drinking the water the aquamarine, the birthstone for March, had been bathing in was said to cure stomach, liver, and heart ailments. Early sailors thought that aquamarine talismans bearing engravings of the sea god Neptune shielded them from the perils of the ocean.
The bloodstone, a dark green gemstone with scarlet flecks, is another birthstone for March.
AprilDiamond
The diamond, the birthstone for April, has long been associated with courage and is a symbol of unending love. The Sanskrit word for diamond is vajra, which also means lightning. In Hindu mythology, Indra, the king of the gods, used vajra as his weapon.
MayEmerald
Emerald, the birthstone for May, was a favorite jewel of Cleopatra’s. It has been linked to love, rebirth, and fertility for a very long time. This stone was even dedicated to Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, by the ancient Romans. Emeralds are now considered to represent knowledge, development, and patience.
JunePearl
Pearl, the birthstone for June, has traditionally been associated with purity. The ancient Greeks believed that pearls were the hardened tears of joy from Aphrodite, the goddess of love.
JulyRuby
The ancient Hindus revered ruby, the birthstone for July, as the “king of stones.” It was thought to keep the wearer safe from evil. The intense red color of the ruby now stands for passion and love.
AugustPeridot
Peridot, the birthstone for August, represents fortitude. Due to its pale green hue, it is frequently referred to as the “evening emerald.” The green peridot crystals discovered in volcanic ashes were once thought to represent the tears of Pele, the volcano goddess. This diamond was thought to ward off nightmares when set in gold.
SeptemberSapphire
Sapphire, the birthstone for September, was long supposed to ward off evil and poisoning. It was thought that putting a poisonous snake in a sapphire container would cause it to die. The sapphire, which has historically been a favored stone of priests and rulers, stands both innocence and knowledge.
OctoberOpal
Opal, the birthstone for October, represents loyalty and assurance. The word comes from the Latin opalus, meaning “precious jewel. Opal-set necklaces were worn to ward off evil and preserve vision.
DecemberTurquoise
Turquoise, the birthstone for December, is viewed as a love charm. It is also a representation of luck and success, and wearing one is said to calm the mind and shield the wearer from harm. Particularly turquoise rings are said to ward off evil spirits.
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Do you know your natal flower now that you know your birthstone? See our page of flowers by birth month!
Enjoy our birthday facts, history, folklore, and other fun stuff on our birthdays page.
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 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
It is believed that wearer of this gemstone gets happiness and good fortune. Turquoise was a hue that Native Americans connected to the blue sky and the green ground.
What color birthstone is for Capricorns?
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.
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.
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.
Garnetis it a crystal?
A set of chemically and physically related silica minerals are referred to as garnets. More than 5000 years ago, during the Bronze Age, garnet first appeared. Its name, which dates back to antiquity, was taken from the Latin word granatium, which meaning pomegranate (because the small, red crystals were thought to resemble pomegranate seeds). Granat was actually the original name, but through time, it changed to garnet.
In some igneous rocks and heavily metamorphosed rocks, garnet is relatively common. Due to the extreme temperatures and pressures under which these minerals develop, these conditions leave a mark on the surrounding rock. As a result, geologists may use garnet to determine the temperature and pressure that the rocks in the area underwent.
All garnets have the same crystal structure because they are isostructural. Similar crystal characteristics and forms result from this. Usually, garnets form symmetrical, cube-based crystals. The rhombic dodecahedron, a twelve-sided crystal with diamond-shaped (rhombic) sides, is the most typical crystal shape in this class. Garnets are known for their basic shape because no other crystal shape is so tightly linked to a single mineral family.
What sign’s closest pal is Capricorn?
Although they may not be the most gregarious or spontaneous, those born under this sign value friendship and can be relied upon no matter what, especially during difficult times. Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio, and Pisces are natural allies for Capricorn since they are dependable, grounded, and helpful signs.
What is the flower of Capricorn?
Congratulations if a lovely Capricorn baby has entered your family. The parents will appreciate their kid’s laid-back nature. Your new baby will develop into a caring and sincere person. Since Capricorns love to learn and will grow up to be determined and diligent, you should promote learning from a young age.
The Capricorn can be brash on the surface, exactly like their birth flower, the carnation. Capricorns have a bright appearance, but they also have a gentler side. Given that Capricorns are conventional, a gift like a bouquet of carnations would brighten their day.
While working hard to discipline their child, a Capricorn parent also enjoys themselves frequently. While Capricorns may have rules and laws for their children, they are always caring and affectionate since they enjoy family and being connected to it.