The birthstone
for January is the garnet.
The name garnet is derived from the Latin word granatum
(pomegranate); this alludes to the garnet's color and seed-like
crystal formation. There are many forms of garnet. Some are: pyrope,
rhodolite, almadine, and grossular (or tsavorite).
Garnet has been treasured for thousands of years. This lovely
red stone was once thought to cure fever and promote good health.
Garnet was warn for protection when traveling. It is said that
Asiatic tribes once used garnets in place of bullets during battle--they
believed these blood-red stones to be more deadly than a lead
bullet. Over the years, this vibrant gemstone has symbolized many
things to many people: fire, truth, grace, constancy, and fidelity.
Mohs hardness: 6.5-7.5
Refractive Index: 1.714-1.895
Specific Gravity: 3.5-4.3
The toughness of garnets is good. Garnet may be cleaned by using
jewelry cleaners, mild soap, or an untreated cloth. However, steaming,
ultrasonic, and boiling garnet is not recommended!
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The name pyrope comes from the Greek pyropos (fire-like).
Its red color is due to the presence of chrome.
Origin: A major source for the pyrope garnet is Arizona.
Color: Blood red
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The almandine-pyrope garnet is a fine quality garnet mined from
an alluvial gravel layer at the Garnet Queen Mine in northern
Idaho. Its beautiful color rivals the brilliant garnets found
years ago in Bohemia, Czechoslovakia, and Russia's Ural Mountains.
Idaho's Queensland Garnet is known not only for its color and
brilliance, but also for its large size and purity.
Origin: A major source for the almandine-pyrope garnet is the
Garnet Queen Mine, northern Idaho.
Color: Deep blood red
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The rhodolite garnet gets its name from the Greek rhodo (rose)
and litho (stone).
Color: Rose to lavender
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The popular almandine garnet gets its name from the Latin carbunculus
alabandicus; carbunculus means "small coal," and
alabandicus refers to the city Alabanda, an ancient garnet
source in Asia Minor (Turkey).
Color: Deep orange-red to brown-red
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The lush green tsavorite is a bright, vivid variety of grossular
garnet. Tsavorite is rare in large, finished pieces. The rough
stone exists in small, shallow pockets throughout the terrain.
Its lovely green color is attributed to chromium and vanadium,
trace elements in its composition.
Tsavorite was first discovered recently in Tanzania, East Africa;
then, a few years later, it was found again in neighboring Kenya.
Named for the Tsavo River and the Tsavo National Park near its
deposits in Africa, tsavorite was brought into the American limelight
in the mid 1970's by Tiffany & Co., who renamed it tsavolite"
for their promotional purposes.
Origin: Tanzania and Kenya
Color: Brilliant green
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