Birthstone January - Qualities and Myth
Garnet jewellry is the birthstone for January.
Birthstones are special stones (often semi-precious stones) that are associated with a particular month in the Georgian calendar. Birthstone jewellery makes a popular gift and is chosen according to the person’s birthday. Some months and zodiac signs have several birthstones associated with them because of various reasons. Some have modern birthstone associations as well as other birthstones that were associated with them in older times. The birthstone January is the garnet,
a semi-precious stone usually in a deep red colour. Because of its colour, the qualities associated with garnet are in part derived from the associations of the colour red, i.e. it is said to strengthen love,sexuality, sensuality and passion. However, the garnet also has other qualities. It is associated with friendship, faithfulness, commitment and truth and is thought to aid with removal of negativity and enlightenment. It is representative of perseverance and is also traditionally given on the 2nd and 6th wedding anniversaries. Garnet is associated with the zodiac sign of Capricorn (as an alternate) as the month of January is ruled by this sign. Capricorn has other gemstones associated with it, but the qualities inherent in the garnet are seen to be ones directly relating to Capricorn (such as perseverance, commitment, etc.). It is the birthstone for the sign of Aquarius, a sign that is often associated with honesty. Garnets come in a variety of colours, not just red, although they are usually associated with the red colour. The word garnet is derived from “Granatum”, ancient Greek for seed. This is because the red crystals look a lot like the seeds of the pomegranate fruit. The different types of garnet include: Almandine garnet - brownish or reddish brownAndradite garnet - can be black, green or brownGrossular garnet - green, orange or without colourPyrope garnet - ruby red or dark redSpessartine garnet - brown, pink or orangeUvaorite garnet - greenOther types of garnet include remarkable colour-changing ones which change from green, beige, brown, grey or blue to reddish purple/pink in incandescent light. Individual stones can vary greatly in quality, and red garnets are the most common. They are abundantly available and relatively cheap compared to other semi-precious stones. The green garnets are the rarest and therefore most expensive. Garnets have been valued across the world for centuries. The use of garnets as a gemstone can be traced to prehistoric times, and references of garnet jewellery date back as far as 3100 B.C when it was worn by wealthy ancient Egyptians. The first industrial use of garnets was much later, when it was used as coated sandpaper in 1878. Garnet jewellery was also found in Sumerian graves and its use extended into medieval times, when soldiers wore it to ward off wounding and bring victory. The garnet’s red colour led Native American tribes to believe the stone held healing properties against blood conditions. Nowadays, garnets are treasured for their beauty, and some people also view them as a token of enduring love and friendship. For those born in January, they make a very special gift, reminding the wearer not only of the good qualities of character he or she is meant to have but also of the meaning of their relationship.
