Birthstone of the month: Garnet

"By her who is this month was born

No gem save garnets shall be worn

They will ensure her constancy

True friendship and fidelity."

While January may be cold, the warm colours this month’s birthstone garnet are the perfect antidote to the winter blues.

Its name comes from the Latin word ‘granatus’, meaning grain or seed. This is because its dark red colour was said to resemble a pomegranate seed.

Garnet is a relatively hardwearing stone, ranging from a 7.0 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale or hardness. This makes it a practical as well as beautiful choice of jewellery, suitable for everyday wear. They also have a high refractive index, giving them a brilliant sparkle.

The brilliance of garnet is the stuff of Legend. It is said that Noah hung a garnet on the front of his Ark to guide him. This reference has lead to many travellers carrying garnets for protection and guidance. In the Koran, heaven is said to glow with the light of garnets.

Garnet was believed to have many healing properties, particularly in its red hue. It was said to stimulate blood flow, relieve rheumatism and arthritis pain, as well as combating depression.

Symbolically, garnet was believed to be a stone of both passion and healing. It was said to strengthen passion and fidelity and bring inner peace. Conversely, it was also used in war by some peoples. Indian soldiers fighting the British at Kashmir used garnet bullets in the hope of causing bloody, non-healing wounds.

With its fantastic sparkle as well as hard wearing nature, garnet is as beautiful as it is practical. The variety of colours available makes it a wonderfully versatile stone that suits a variety of styles and tastes.