GARNET
BIRTHSTONE
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| Garnet Birthstone |
The
rich colour of garnet is one
of the oldest known gemstones, first thought to have been used in
3100 BC in the Nile Delta.
The
Egyptians created beads and jewellery but it was the Ancient Greeks
who named it garnet after
orgranatum,
the pomegranate seeds whose luscious pink-red it resembled. It is a
very hard stone and this gave it another, less ornate, use with some
Asiatic tribes using it as bullets.
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| Garnet Birthstone |
Garnet
has always been popular, although often mistakenly thought of as a
cheaper alternative to ruby.
It
has an illustrious past, used during the Renaissance and late
Victorian times, as well as the Art Nouveau period. It was also
favoured by royalty; court portraits show its use throughout the
ages. In the 12th century, Queen
Edith, wife of Henry I, used to wear garnets and Queen Elizabeth I
used the deeply-coloured stone to decorate her Coronation robes in
1559. Red,
amber, green
The most
common colour is red-brown: the deeper stones should be held up to
the light to allow the red to show through.
It is
only recently that one of its more potent colours from Africa, a
vibrant green, was first used in Europe and America.
The
African Tsavorite was discovered by miners in pods which are known as
'potatoes' and from which lapidarists (jewellers working with the raw
material)
created the stunning green ' which is much desired, although often
mistaken for emerald. It was first introduced by
Tiffany & Co as late as 1974 and is very desirable.
Another k
version of the green garnet, which has been used for longer, is
known as the Uralian emerald because of its richness of colouring.
The African red garnet is so red that it is sometimes known as the
Cape Ruby. Garnets vary in colour from brown, through red, pink,
orange and yellow to green, black and even clear.
It is a
very versatile stone, a silicate mineral,the common colour known as
Pyrope (meaning fire-like) Carbuncle. It is generally assumed that
the red stones mentioned in the Bible are either garnets or rubies,
although they are not actually named.
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| Garnet Birthstone |
Garnet is
believed to have healing properties. It is said to stimulate the
bloodstream and spleen and is also claimed to relieve rheumatism and
the pain from arthritis, as well as fighting depression (common for
most birthstones) and lethargy.
Interestingly,
it both promotes the sex drive and conquers impure thoughts (this
being a system of beliefs, not a science), but it is also said to
enhance the imagination and creativity as well as promote energy and
courage.
Worn
by travellers for protection, the stone symbolises fire, vitality,
faith, truth, courage, passion and fidelity. They are also the sign
of affection and are a popular gift between
friends as well as the perfect present for January.
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