Blessings And Birthstones – the January Gem!
Individuals born in January are associated with the garnet, a splendid, intense, vivid and rich semi- precious stone that is believed to bring peace, prosperity and good health to one’s home.
January Birthstone – Meaning, Significance, Symbolizes
The January Birthstone, garnet is a deep red crystal, a revered and popular precious stone. The Garnet has long been used as a talisman for protection by tribes and sects. According to legend, possessing or wearing a garnet ensures success and health, for the stone is believed to possess curative powers. The first birthstone of the year is called the ‘Gem of Faith’, a stone that has the power to bestow eternal happiness, health and wealth on the owner, in addition to a powerful shield constructed around the wearer by the stone for protection. Garnets are traditionally a deep, striking red, associated with fire and power in symbology. The ancient Egyptians hailed the garnet as a symbol of life. The stone was renowned for its properties as far back as the wealthy Bronze age, with remnants of garnet necklaces recently found in the graves of the Czechoslovakians. Egypt and Sumeria appear to have a fondness for this stone, with jewelry dating as far back as 3100 BC recently discovered in tombs and graves. Garnet jewelry was very popular during the third and fourth century in Rome, the fashion and trade Capital of the age. Warriors from different sects used to wear the stone as a talisman against death and injury. Ironically, the stone is said to bring peace and tranquility to the wearer. Types of Garnet Gems.
Garnet signifies victory, truth, purity, friendship, faith and protection. The January birthstone is said to symbolize happiness, deep and enduring friendships. The stone has been associated with awareness, commitment, insight and regeneration, countering black magic, negative forces and dark energies.
Interesting Facts about Garnet
The garnet is said to bring terrible fortune to those indulging in theft and deceit. The stone is said to bring terrible luck upon its wearer unless it is returned to its rightful owner. To the trustworthy, honest, righteous and hardworking, the stone is said to aid their fortunes and bestow harmony and peace in their lives. The green garnet is a symbol of prosperity and success. A garnet that has lost its luster is the harbinger of bad tidings.
Ancient soothsayers, wise and learned men of medicine used to place garnets inside open wounds to stop bleeding and precipitate clotting. Ancient Indian and Persian warriors used to wear the January Birthstone as an amulet to ward off pestilence, plague and the evil eye that sent down bolts of lightening to strike men down. The Garnet – Quality And Cut Of This January Birthstone
Etymology Of The Garnet
The name “garnet” is derived from the Latin word “Granatum” or “pomegranate”, as the crystals resemble the dark red color fruit. This gemstone is also known as the Arizona Spinel or the Arizona ruby as well as the New Mexico or Montana ruby.
Scientific Make Up – Composition Of The January Birthstone
The garnet belongs to a group of silicate minerals which have been used since the Bronze Age as abrasives and precious stones. The variants of garnet possess similar physical properties but different chemical composition. Pure garnet crystals are used as gemstones.
The light transmission properties of this gemstone can range from the transparent to opaque, with the latter used as abrasives in industries. The mineral has a radiant luster that is categorized either as vitreous, or glass-like or resinous, amber-like. Red garnets are common, but the precious gemstone exhibits a spectrum of colors owing to impurities like iron, manganese and aluminum. A few garnets possess a star pattern at their center, created when tiny metal impurities arrange themselves in this pattern within the garnet.
Characteristics Of The Garnet
The garnet is a durable stone, one that endures and holds its brilliance for many years. The garnet does not scratch or break easily.
January Birthstone: A Spectrum Of Colors
The Garnet exhibits an interesting range of colors, the widest spectrum of hue for any stone. The stone however, rarely exhibits blue or tones of blue. The most common color for the Garnet is a rich, fiery red. Few garnets change color to reflect deeper hues in artificial light. Other colors of the garnet species include orange, green, yellow, brown, black, purple, pink and colorless. The rarest of these is the blue garnet, a precious pursuit of gem lovers. The first blue garnet was discovered in the late 1990s in Bekily, Madagascar. Start the new year with a Garnet.
Origin Of The January Birthstone
Garnets are found in abundance in Scotland, Tanzania, Switzerland, Australia, Argentina, South Africa, Brazil, The United States and Myanmar (Burma). Igneous or metamorphic rock formations with alluvial deposits hold the highest quality gems.
Healing Power Of The January Birthstone
The garnet is believed to be effective in healing health problems related to the heart, lungs and blood. The garnet is said to be effective in enhancing sensuality and sexuality. Popular belief entails placing the garnet under one’s pillow to ward away the Evil Eye and prevent bad dreams from haunting an individual. This precious gemstone has curative properties and is used to heal inflammatory disorders, halt hemorrhaging and bestow peace and tranquility.
The garnet is known to enhance spiritual healing and symbolizes perseverance as well as strength, reinforcing commitment and tenacity.
Value Of January Birthstone
The garnet is a semi- precious stone, a popular gem used in jewelry, artifacts and furnishing. Its fantastic range of colors, crystal structure and intensity makes this a coveted possession in many homes. The most expensive gemstone is the brilliant green garnet, the Demantoid.
Source: http://www.birthstonezodiac.com/birthstones/january-birthstone/