Gent's Mozambique Garnet Cabochon Ring
The birthstone for January is the garnet. The word garnet, a 14th century Middle English name, means “dark Red” and “grain or seed” deriving from the Latin granatus or possibly pomum granatum. The round shape and deep red color brings to mind the image of a pomegranate seed.
Garnets are most recognized for their deep red color but are also available in orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, pink and colorless. The rarest garnet is the blue garnet, originally discovered in the late 1990s in Madagascar. The color changes from blue-green in the daylight to purple in incandescent light.
The 7 to 7.5 hardness of the garnet (Mohs’ scale) makes the gem sturdy and durable. This quality makes garnets easy to wear during the day or evening as they are more resistant to everyday wear that may occur. Garnets qualify for any cut, making them a versatile gem found in many shapes and sizes.
History
Garnets are a commonly used gemstone throughout history. They are found in jewelry as early as the Egyptian, Greek and Roman eras. The red garnets were commonly used in the Roman world and during the Migration Period of art where people migrated and took over territories in the Western Empire. The garnet gems were frequently used in cloisonné work from England in a style referred to as “garnet cloisonné.”
Industrial Uses
Garnet sand is a good abrasive and is commonly used in sand blasting. When mixed with high pressure water the sand is used to cut steel and other materials in a technique called “water jet cutting.” Garnet sand is also used as a water filtration media. Applied to a paper, the garnet sand is used by cabinetmakers to refine the surface of bare wood. Today, garnets are even used as an optical component in a new photonic chip.
Healing
The garnet gemstone is thought to have healing properties, although this remains controversial. History records healers, shamans and medicine men as having used them. They were worn by travelers for protection as people believed that garnets illuminated the night, protecting them from “dangers in the dark.” Today, some people believe that by wearing garnets that contact the skin, garnets help to prevent arthritis, pancreas, varicose veins and problems with testicles and toenails.
Jewelry
The birthstone for those born in January is the garnets. The Zodiac chart lists the garnet as the gemstone for Aquarius. This versatile gemstone is used in rings (as in the men’s Mozambique garnet cabochon ring), bracelets, pendants, necklaces and many other jewelry creations. The hardness of the stone allows it to be easily worn everyday to places such as the office. The rich color makes it an elegant adornment for evening fashion. Garnets combine well with other gemstones, such as in the diamond and multicolor gemstone bracelet.
