January Birthday

Garnet, one of the oldest gemstones in human history, dates back to the Bronze Age.  Garnets are known worldwide for their intense deep red color. The shape of a Garnet resembles a rounded grain, and it derives its name from the Latin word "granum", meaning grain or "granatus", meaning Pomegranate, since its dark red stones resemble the seeds of the pomegranate.

Folklore stories tell us that Noah used a Garnet lantern in order to navigate his ark through the night.  Garnet was also one of the twelve stones that adorned the breastplate of the high priest Aaron (exodus 39).  Garnet later has stood for the tribe of Judah, one of the twelve Tribes of Israel.  Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans have all worn Garnet jewelry, as well.  It was widely believed that Garnets are powerful talismans, as they protect travelers at night by lighting up their ways and chasing away evil.

Healing qualities of Garnets:

The Garnet was considered to be a gem of faith and truth.  Primitive cultures have used Garnets to stop bleeding and cure inflammation, and Asian and North American tribes used Garnets as bullets, believing it would inflict fatal wounds. In 1892, during hostilities on the Kashmir frontier, the Hanza tribesmen fired on British soldiers with garnet bullets, believing them to be more effective than lead bullets. Garnets were believed to hold medicinal powers.In Medieval times, it protected its wearer against poisons, wounds and bad dreams, and cured depression. Red garnets relieved fever, hemorrhages and inflammatory diseases. To modern users, the garnet symbolizes a light heart, loyalty and enduring affections.

Sources:

Garnets ar commonly found as small pebbles in streams, where the igneous and metamorphic rocks that contain them have weathered away. They're found in many places around the world, including North and South America, Australia, India, Asia and Spain.

Care:

The brilliant shine of the Garnet can be explained by their high refraction of light.  Garnets are sturdy and quite resistant to any wear and tear, making them an excellent choice for any jewelry.  Garnet's brilliance and unaltered natural beauty makes it easy to see why this gemstone has remained a popular choice for so many centuries.  Warm soapy water and a soft tooth brush will clean this gem well.