About Garnet
Garnet is a family of stones, not a single stone, ranging from deep red to green, orange, and purple. January birthstone garnets are usually deep red.
Garnets have been worn since ancient times, and their name comes from the Latin for pomegranate, whose seeds share their deep red color.
Color and Varieties
Red almandine and pyrope garnets suit January best, while green tsavorite and orange spessartite garnets suit collectors and bold designs.
Color should be even and saturated face-up. Dark stones that look almost black in low light suit smaller sizes better than large ones.
Durability and Wear
Most garnets rate 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, hard enough for rings worn with care, pendants, and earrings.
Protective settings suit daily garnet rings, since garnets are less hard than sapphire or diamond and chip more easily at exposed points.
Choosing and Gifting
Choose garnet by face-up color in natural light, and prefer stones that stay red rather than turning brown in indoor light.
Garnet jewelry suits January birthdays and second anniversaries traditionally, and engraving a date strengthens the gift.
January Birthstone: Garnet FAQ
What color is January birthstone?
Deep red garnet is the traditional January birthstone, though garnets also occur in green, orange, and purple.
Can garnet be worn daily?
Yes with care and a protective setting. Garnet rates 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, less hard than sapphire.
What does garnet mean?
Garnet traditionally means loyalty, friendship, and protection, which suits birthday and anniversary gifts.
Is garnet expensive?
Most garnets are affordable, while rare varieties such as tsavorite and demantoid cost far more.