Birthstones are special stones (often semi-precious stones) that are associated with a particular month in the Georgian calendar. Birthstones are meant to bring luck to those born on that particular month, enhancing the good qualities of character associated with that person’s zodiac sign. Birthstone jewellery associated with the recipient’s birthday makes a popular gift. Some months and zodiac signs have several birthstones associated with them because of various reasons. Some have modern birthstone associations as well as other birthstones that were associated with them in older times.

The birthstone January is the garnet, a semi-precious stone usually associated with a deep red colour. Because of its colour, the qualities associated with garnet are in part derived from the associations of the colour red, i.e. it is said to strengthen love,sexuality, sensuality and passion. However, the garnet also has other qualities. It is associated with friendship, faithfulness, commitment and truth and is thought to aid with removal of negativity and enlightenment. It is representative of perseverance and is given on the 2nd and 6th wedding anniversaries.

Garnet is associated with the zodiac sign of Capricorn (as an alternate) as the month of January is ruled by this sign. Although Capricorn has some other stones associated with it, the qualities inherent in the garnet are seen to be associated with Capricorn (such as perseverance, commitment, etc.). It is the birthstone for the sign of Aquarius, a sign that is often associated with honesty.

It is important to note that garnets come in a variety of colours, not just red, although they are usually thought of as the bright red colour. The name itself is derived from the ancient Greek word “Granatum” which means seed - the red crystals resembled the seeds of the pomegranate fruit.

The different types of garnet include:

Almandine
garnet - brownish or reddish brown
Andradite garnet - can be black, green or brown
Grossular garnet - green, orange or without colour
Pyrope garnet - ruby red or dark red
Spessartine garnet - brown, pink or orange
Uvaorite garnet - green

There are many other types of garnet however, including remarkable colour-changing ones which change from green, beige, brown, grey or blue to reddish purple/pink in incandescent light. Red garnets are the most common, and therefore the cheapest, whereas green are the rarest and most expensive; although cost also depends upon the quality of the stone.

Garnets have been prized all over the world for centuries. The use of garnets as a gemstone can be traced to prehistoric times, and references of garnet jewellery date back as far as 3100 B.C when it was worn by wealthy ancient Egyptians. The first industrial use of garnets was much later, when it was used as coated sandpaper in 1878.

Garnet jewellery was also found in Sumerian graves and its use extended into medieval times, when soldiers wore it to ward off wounding and bring victory. Native American tribes attributed healing qualities to the garnet, its red colour associating it with the power to heal diseases and conditions of the blood system, as well as being able to break a fever and reduce inflammation.

Nowadays, garnets are treasured for their beauty, and some people also view them as a token of enduring love and friendship. For those born in January, they make a very special gift, reminding the wearer not only of the good qualities of character he or she is meant to have but also of the meaning of their relationship.