Gemstones World - January

Written by Florence Neau of Athena Jewellery

Garnet

Garnet is actually the term used for many different gemstones, which are all part of a closely related group of minerals. They are mostly seen as red gemstones but they actually are many different colours and they are found all over the world.

Hesonite Garnet

I found slight variations for the origin of the name Garnet but they all based around Latin words meaning either grains or red. There was ‘’granum’’ for the grainy one, ‘’granatum’’ for dark red and containing many seeds and ‘’granate’’ for seed and pomegranate.

Garnet Bracelet
by Athena Jewellery

Garnets have been used in jewellery forever. I read that Garnets were found as beads in a necklace worn by a young man in a grave that dates back to 3000 B.C.

Some of the Garnet varieties include:

• Rhodolite: the rose-red form of garnet
• Tsavorite: green to emerald garnets (my favourite!)
• Hessonite: orange/brown
• Spessarite: orange/red

And there is even a colour change variety.

Garnet is a gemstone that does not receive any treatment as they all proved ineffective.

The key words for this gem are vitality and order. It is meant to bring balance in relationships, both on a sexual and spiritual level.

Health wise, it promotes general healing and regeneration. It is believed to be especially good for the blood.

Green Garnet (Top)
Tsavorite (Bottom)

Garnet is also a 2^nd Anniversary gemstone.

Next Month: Amethyst and Ametrine