What is Garnet?
Garnet is the gemstone for January and those born under the Capricorn zodiac sign.
GARNET
Garnet is a name given to over ten gemstones with similar chemical structure. Although red occurs most, there are also shades of green, pale to bright yellow and fiery-orange. Some rare gems even change color from daylight to artificial light.
The name "garnet" derives from the Latin "granum" meaning "grain". Describing the typically rounded shape of the gemstone and similar to pomegranate seeds. Garnet comes mainly from Africa, but also from India, Russia, central and south America.
It is one of the few gemstones that is usually sold natural. Rarely treated, enhanced or dyed.
Benefits
Garnet makes good jewelry because it's very hard, and so resistant to wear. The gemstone is said to symbolize happiness as well as deep and enduring love and friendship.
Garnet has been found in jewelry from ancient Greece, Rome, and dating back to 3100 BC in Egypt. Oriental warriors made garnet bullets because they believed these would inflict more harm. Others thought garnet brightened the night because of its high refraction of light - explained Noah's garnet lantern to steer his Ark.
Travelers' wore garnets to protect against evil, poison and wounds. It was also believed to help depression and prevent nightmares. Red garnet in particular is said to break a fever, stop bleeding and to reduce inflammation.
Modern Garnet
Today, garnet is prized for its beauty rather than its magical powers. People like its naturalness, its brilliance, and color of a sun-drenched Indian summer. Deep green garnets are the rarest and therefore expensive. Emerald green and colorless garnet is next rarest, followed by pure red. Most gemstones come from India and Thailand.
Garnet Jewelry
Garnet gives a classy, sophisticated, classical and bold image to jewelry. Simple and elegant. As it is relatively expensive, it is usually used sparely on necklaces and bracelets. When designing jewelry, spread your garnet beads out using lots of silver spacers and findings.
Garnet jewelry is commonly set in gold and other precious metals, so is expected to be expensive - don't sell your hand-crafted garnet jewelry cheap!
Garnet: January's Gemstone - The Benefits of Garnet Jewelry GARNET
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