January Birthstone: Commit Your Resolutions!

"By her who is this month was born

No gem save garnets shall be worn

They will ensure her constancy

True friendship and fidelity."

Introducting the January Birthstone

Can you believe 2011 is over already? What are your New Year's resoultions? Mine is to stop saying 'yes' each time Rachel offers me a coffee, I'm becoming addicted to the stuff! Some of you may also be celebrating a birthday this month, or have friends and relatives who were born in January. The perfect present could be an item of their own birthstone, garnet. The garnet gemstone is said to be metaphysically linked to commitment, regeneration, insight and removing negativity, all of which are useful qualities to behold when starting afresh in the year of 2012.

The Colour of Garnet

Most of us associate the stone garnet with the colour red. There are many types of red garnet, 'anthil', a bright red colour, 'Malayan' garnet which is orange, 'rhodolite' which is bright pink, to name a few. However, garnet can also be found in many different shades. The stones that are bright green in colour are called 'demantoid' garnets, and are extremely rare and priceless. The gem can also be found in yellow, brown, purple, black and colourless. The meaning of the colour red can be rage, passion, or in China red is the symbol of fire, and carries a large positive connotation as it is associated with courage, success and happiness.

Garnet, or Pomegranite?

The name "garnet" comes from the Middle English word "gernet" which meant 'dark red', as well as from the Latin "granatus" which could be a reference to "pomum granatum" or 'pomegranite', a plant which bears vivid red fruit which are in fact a similar size and shape to garnet crystals. I hope this information is helpful in deciding on a gift, or even just as a small snippet of facts about garnet that may be useful sometime in the future. I'm off to the supermarket for lunch now, as I have a sudden craving for pomegranites.

Until next time!

Take a look at December's birthstone, turquoise.

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