Garnet January Birthstone 01

Compositions

Specific Gravity: 3.65 - 3.80

Refractive Index: 1.730 - 1.76

Hardness: 7 to 7-1/2 (Mohs)

Color: Deep red to bright violet-red

Mineral Information: Aluminum/Silicate

Chemical Composition: Mg3Al2(SiO4)3)

(Please note: Information on this website is no substitute for consulting a healthcare professional. All information we share, including information relating to medical and health conditions, products and treatments, is for informational purposes only.)

Healing Power

Garnets were worn to increase bodily strength, endurance and vigor. It was believed to be beneficial to wear a garnet when one had to exert oneself. Garnet was also though to relieve skin conditions. There are countless beliefs regarding the various benefits of wearing a garnet to promote good health. 

History

They’re most commonly red, but can be found in several colors including green. The name likely comes from the Latin word "Garanatus," meaning "seed-like," in reference to a pomegranate, due to the likeness of the gem’s most famous color and shape to the small seeds and red flesh of the fruit. Garnets were found as beads in a necklace worn by a young man in a grave that dates back to 3000 B.C. This is proof of the hardness and durability of the stone. Plato had his portrait engraved on a garnet by a Roman engraver. Bohemia, now are a part of Czechoslovakia, was once a enormous source of garnet, and at one time, cutting, polishing, and mounting garnets was very rich in that country. Many Bohemian castles and churches had beautiful interiors decorated with garnet. The Bohemian garnets are famous even today, known for their small but beautiful stones set close to each other resembling a pomegranate.