Garnet, the birthstone for January, signifies eternal friendship and trust and is the perfect gift for a friend. Garnet, derived from the word granatum, means seed, and is called so because of the gemstone’s resemblance to a pomegranate seed. References to the gemstone dates back to 3100 BC, when the Egyptians used garnets as inlays in jewelry.

Garnet is available in a rainbow of colors, from the deep red Bohemian Garnet to the vibrant greens of the Russian Demantoid and African Tsavorite. We also see it appearing in the oranges and browns of Mandarin Garnet, Spessartite and Hessonite from Namibia and Sri Lanka, and the subtle pinks and purples of Rhododendron, and the most widely recognized color of Pyrope Garnet. It is considered a great gift to symbolize friendship and trust.

Legend says Garnets light up the night and protect their owners from nightmares. Garnets have long been carried by travelers to protect against accidents far from home. Garnet is the birthstone for January but with its stunning variety of colors and its mystical powers it has been given as a gift for all occasions for centuries.