January Birthstone: Garnet

Garnet is the birthstone for January. And if you love the immaculate naturalness and sun-drenched warm colours of Indian summer, you will fall in love Garnets. Today these stones come mainly from African countries but also come from India, Russia, central and south America. The skilled hands of cutters all over the world shape them in many classical forms, and more and more are also shaping them in modern fancy designer’s cuts. Garnets appeal generally because of their natural and not manipulated beauty, their wide variety of colours and their magnificent brilliance. 

January’s birthstone

The name “Garnet” is believed to have derived from “pomegranate” with its red, garnet coloured seeds. However, nowadays garnets are much more than just red, fruity-coloured gems. Garnets contain slight variations in their compositions that produce the fabulous varieties we see today. Ranging from pyrope, to rhodolite, to demantoid and tsavorite, the enduringly popular Garnet family has just about something for everyone in almost every conceivable colour.

What else characterizes this gemstone family? First of all, there is an excellent hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs’ scale. This applies, with minor variations, to all the members of the Garnet group. And this is also an explanation of why these gemstones are so excellent to wear. Garnets are quite sturdy and resistant to everyday wear and tear, and uncomplicated to work into jewellery. 

Looking for a beautiful gemstone that is warm and natural, yet sturdy and easy to wear?

Visit Nash Jewellers, a family tradition since 1918.

Colin Nash,
Certified Gemologist Appraiser,
Nash Jewellers