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Garnet
Facts, Information and Description
Garnet is the modern January birthstone and the gem designated for the 2nd and 6th wedding anniversary as well as the Ayurvedic birthstone for January.
There are no known enhancements for garnet, it occurs in every color of the spectrum, except blue. Any of these colors is permissible to wear as the January birthstone.
The name Garnet appears to originate with the Latin 'granatum malum' which means pomegranate. Pomegranate is the name of the bush which produces a red fruit with seeds. Jewelry made with garnet has been found as early as the Bronze Age (3000 BC) in burial sites. It is thought that early communities valued garnet and believed that it offered protection in the afterlife.
Folklore, Legend and Healing Properties
During the Middle Ages primitive cultures believed that the red stones would stop bleeding. Many early cultures believed that garnets were helpful in preventing and curing blood disorders and infections.
Varieties:
Almandine - Deep, dark, rich red to purplish red to orange red (the more valuable Almandines are less orange and brown in color). Sources: Brazil, India, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, U.S. in Arizona, Idaho, New Mexico, Utah, Arkansas and Kentucky.
Demantoid - Medium green to slightly yellowish green. Rare and valuable, sought after by gem collectors. Sources: Italy, Korea, Russia, Zaire.
Hessonite - The hessonite garnet from Sri Lanka varies in color from a brilliant yellow to yellowish brown. Sources: Kenya, Sri Lanka, Tanzania.
Pyrope - Deep, dark, rich red to slightly purple red. Sources: Australia, Czechoslovakia, South Africa - Zimbabwe and Mozambique. United States produces a highly saturated dark red almandine/pyrope garnet.
Rhodolite - Shades of pink through reddish lavender. Sources: Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Zimbabwe.
Spessartite - Medium orange to reddish orange. Sources: Brazil, Namibia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, US. Spessartite is found in Europe with the main source of these deposits found in Bavaria, Germany.
Tsavorite - Medium, intense green to slightly yellowish green. Rare and valuable. Sources: Tsavorite is found in Kenya around the Tsavo National Park area. The jewelry company, Tiffany and Company imported tsavorite from Tanzania.
Uvarovite - Bright green. This green-colored garnet occurs in fine crystal clusters. This form is sometimes referred to as drusy because of the tiny crystals. Sources: Uvarovite was discovered in Russia and was named for a Russian nobleman by the name of Sergei Uvarov.
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