Garnet

Legends

Legends, myths, and traditions abound when it comes to garnets. It is believed to have been one of the twelve gemstones in Aaron's breastplate in the Hebrew tradition, while Christians consider the garnet symbolic of Christ's blood and sacrifice of their savior. According to the ancient Jewish text, the Talmud, Noah used a red garnet for illumination in the Ark. In the Koran, garnets are believed to illuminate the Fourth Heaven of the Moslems. Archaeologists have found primitive garnet jewelry among the graves of lake dwellers which dates the use of this popular gemstone to the Bronze age.

A Greek myth tells the story of Peresphone, the young goddess of sunshine, who was abducted by Hades, god of the underworld. The devil eventually released her, but not before he offered her some pomegranate seeds, which guaranteed her return to him. Thus, garnets have come to represent fidelity and commitment.

Powers

Garnets facilitate night vision and ensures success.

Garnets protect their owners from nightmares.

Garnets carried by travelers protect against accidents far from home.

Garnets, according to Egyptians, protected them from snakebite and was an antidote to food poisoning.

In evaluating loose garnets, the purity of color, the clarity and the size are most important. The price increases with the size of the stone and the unusual colors of garnet are even more valuable in the larger sizes. Large inclusion free gems are rare. Garnets are most commonly found in round, oval, and cushion cuts, and the availability will depend on the variety of stone. While Rhodolite garnet is available in larger sizes, Tsavorite garnet is difficult to find in sizes above a carat.

Although garnets are considered durable, store separately from other gemstones to avoid scratches. Clean with a mild soap and lint-free cloth. You may use a soft toothbrush to gently clean beneath the stone.

Far from being only a winter gem as January's birthstone, the garnet, with its brilliance and multitude of colors, is truly a gemstone of choice for any season!