The history of Garnet
Birthstones are designated each month and are fun and great gift ideas to give to others, or if you believe it, they are supposed to bring good luck, good health, and protection when wearing them. To start the new year is the January birthstone garnet. It comes from the Latin word “granatus,” meaning pomegranate because of its deep red color. Garnet has been used and worn since the bronze age of time. In history, you can see garnets used by the pharaohs of Egypt in ornate necklaces, signet rings in Rome, and the nobility of the middle ages.
Where does Garnet come from?
Garnet comes from a variety of different places throughout the world. During the Victorian era, bohemia was the primary source of garnet. For many years mines in southern California provided this gemstone, but now the leading source of garnet is Africa. Some other countries miners can find it in are Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, and more.
Maintenance and Cleaning
Garnet stones range on the Mohs scale of hardness between 6.5 and 7.5. This scale helps you understand a gemstone’s potential susceptibility to damage. So Garnet, in this case, is more fragile than something like rubies, sapphires, and diamonds. To maintain this, you want to prevent Garnet jewelry pieces from rubbing against those gemstones that are higher on the hardness scale. They can scratch and damage your beautiful pieces. This also means not all styles of garnet jewelry are ideal for daily wear as they will wear down over time. But earrings and necklaces are great options to show off your garnet and keep it safe.
Cleaning
To clean Garnet safely, all that is needed is a simple water and soap solution with a soft toothbrush. Brushing lightly and drying will keep your gem bright and beautiful.
If you enjoyed this blog about the January Birthstone Garnet, make sure to check out: The History of Birthstones.