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The red garnet, gem of the month of January

Red garnet, Precious stone of January, the red garnet

The most popular garnets are red in color, but there are also specimens characterized by an extraordinary range of beautiful colors: orange, yellow, purple and vibrant green. There are even garnets that change color from blue to purple based on the light.
The best known variety of garnet, the reddish one, is the Rhodolite Mozambique Garnet which was mined and worked since ancient times. 

Red garnet, Precious stone of January, the red garnet

Egyptian bracelet in yellow gold and garnet

This gem together with the ruby ​​and the spinel were known in the Middle Ages as "carbuncle", the legendary stone that shines in the dark and gives light and hope to the souls who are in the dark. Its name derives from the Latin “granatus“ (grain or seed) for its round shape and for its color which recalls the seeds of the pomegranate. For a long time, the garnet was given the symbol of faith, truth, chivalry, loyalty and honesty because of the light it emits and illuminates everything. 

Its particular luster impressed the Vikings so much that it led them to believe that the garnet even illuminated the path to Valhalla, while prompting Muslims to hypothesize that the Fourth Heaven was irradiated with light by this gem. It also seems that garnet was used by the Christian Crusaders as a protective stone set in their armor and as a symbol of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This stone has been known since the Bronze Age as a precious stone and as an abrasive, as it turns out to be one of the hardest minerals ever known. Luxurious necklaces were made and studded with red garnets to adorn the pharaohs of ancient Egypt.

Red garnet, Precious stone of January, the red garnet

Ancient comb with red garnets

 In ancient Rome, however, they made with this gem signet rings that featured garnet carvings to stamp important documents. One of the most famous garnet objects that you are lucky enough to be able to enjoy is the ancient Smithsonian pyrope hair comb. The red garnets decorating this tiara-like jewel came from the ancient mines of Bohemia and were the most popular specimens during the Victorian era (1837-1901), during which time this unique piece was fashioned. Garnets come from many different regions and countries. Bohemia, for example, was the main source of red pyrope garnets, while in 1846th century Russia it was the green demantoid garnets of the Ural Mountains, much appreciated by the Russian royal family and used by the jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé (1920-XNUMX). 

Today the African continent has one of the most flourishing extractive fields: Namibia is the source of a huge amount of demantoids, while most of the bright green tsavorites on the market come from Kenya, Tanzania and Madagascar. Namibia and Tanzania are very important sites for the extraction of the most precious orange to yellow spessartine garnets. For many years the mining area of ​​the "Three Little ones" of Southern California has been very renewed for the discovery of this fascinating gem, considered the stone of the "born in January",  examples of which can also be found in Myanmar, Brazil, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. The different types of garnet vary between 6,5 and 7,5 on the Mohs hardness scale. This means that this birthstone is more delicate than rubies, sapphires and diamonds. For this reason, although not all garnets are good candidates for everyday use, they are ideal for making precious earrings, brooches and pendants. 

Red garnet, Precious stone of January, the red garnet

Heritage pendant signed DAVERIO 1933 with garnet and chiseled rose gold

Garnet is said to be the "stone of health"  thanks to its ability to eliminate energy blocks, to stimulate metabolism and improve circulation, thus strengthening the immune and vascular systems. This stone would be able to bring "the spirit of devotion" to oneself and others in facing moments of great crisis and depression, for this reason it is also remembered as the "stone of promise". Garnet is connected to the "root chakra" and is recommended for those who tend to have their heads in the clouds and are not very rooted in the reality around them.

Red garnet, Precious stone of January, the red garnet

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