E.S. Design

Richly deep like the color of fine wine, garnets are one of the most romantic gemstones in the world. Literally, the word “garnet” is a Latin word that means “pomegranate.” A pomegranate is a plant that has red and bright seeds. Another great advantage of the garnet is its inexpensive price compared to other gemstones. Those born in the month of January are fortuante to have the garnet as their official birthstone. It is also the gemstone associated with those who belong to the Zodiac sign Aquarius.

Garnets are popularly used as gems for the Heart Chakra, which is largely used to heal and ground one’s emotions. In the medieval times, garnets were used to cure depression and provide courage. It was also believed to bring protection against nightmares. Modern times have shrugged off the superstition associated with the garnet and have associated the gemstone with friendship and relationships.

Garnets may be found from any place on earth. Silica-based minerals build up the structure of a garnet, which are readily found in metamorphic rocks on the earth’s crust. Some of the garnet mines are located in the Ural Mountains, Argentian, Czechoslovakia, Zambia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Hungary, Finland, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and even the United States. You could say that garnets are the most prolific gemstones.

Garnets have six varieties namely, andradite (in yellow, orange, and black colors), spessartine (in orange and brown colors), almandine (in red and purple colors), pyrope (in purple-red shades), grossular (green, yellow, white, and pink colors), and uvarovite (in all green shades).

Garnets may exceptional great gifts for special occasions because they are beautiful gemstones that are inexpensive. In addition to being January’s birthstone, garnets are also the official gemstone for 2nd, 6th, 15th, 18th, 19th, and 25th anniversaries.