The January birthstone makes a great gift for the loved one.

January’s birthstone is a wonderful colored gem called “garnet”. Due to its relative abundance compared to other precious stones, garnet jewels are significantly more affordable and make great gifts. It is said that it is the number one choice for anniversaries.

Its name comes from “granatus”, the roman word for “seed”. This association was made because some garnet varieties look strikingly similar to pomegranate seeds.

Garnets come in numerous colors and varieties. In fact, they have all colors but blue. Many of these are both rare and beautiful, producing genuinely precious gemstones. Some garnets are truly unique in the mineral kingdom and have much to offer as both gemstones and mineral specimens.

The January birthstone is said to possess many extraordinary capabilities. These have changed over time because of the fascination people had for these gems. Up until the 18th century, many soldiers wore garnets to heal their wounds. The red varieties, which can show as much fire as the rubies, were thought to influence the way blood flows inside the body.

Legend has it that Noah used a large garnet to light his ark.

It was also said that garnets changed color when the bearer was facing danger.  They promote love and protect the house from fire and lightening. The orange, yellow and green gems helped increase sexual capability and energy.

There are two garnet species of greater importantance.

The first one, called hydrogrossular garnet, is better known as "Transvaal Jade" because it is often used as a cheaper substitute for jade. It looks like a green jade with small black spots. In medieval times, this species was hung by mothers above a child’s bed because it was said to make sweet dreams and also calm and protect him from emotional stress.

The second one is the rhodolite garnet which is the most transparent of all. The pink makes it look very similar to the pink sapphire. One legend says that it helps cure broken hearts and create romantic circumstances.

This gemstone is formed over millions of years at very high temperatures and enormous pressures in the Earth’s crust. For this reason, the garnet is very though. However, it can still be damaged if you are not careful.

Make sure you do not expose your gem to sudden temperature changes, hot steam or acids. To clean it, use warm water or ultrasounds at a specialized atelier.

You can find a wide array of garnet jewelry at the industry leading distributor, Diamond International.