January's Birthstone: Garnet

     Garnet, derived from the word granatum, means seed, and is called so because of the gemstone's resemblance to a pomegranate seed. Garnets have been known to Man for thousands of years. Noah, it is said, used a garnet lantern to help him steer his ark through the dark night. Garnets are also found in jewelry from early Egyptian, Greek and Roman times. Many early explorers and travelers carried a garnet with them, as it was believed to light up the night and protect its bearer from evil and disaster. Today, science has taught us that the garnet's proverbial luminosity comes from its high refractive index.
     Not only do garnets have many colors, they also have many names: almandine, andradite, demantoid, grossularite, hessonite, pyrope, rhodolite, tsavorite, spessartine, and uvarovite, to quote a few. The most common and popular are the red garents – almandine, pyrope, and rhodolite (shown above). Tsavorite and demantoid are green garnets, and gaining popularity is the radiant orange-red Mandarin garnet (shown below).
     Today, the most important sources for garnet are Africa, Sri Lanka, and India. With a variety of colors and durability for everyday wear, these gems are a wonderful choice for any client.

  
Simon Golub & Sons
18k White Gold Pendant $795
0.33ctw of Round Diamonds
8mm x 6mm Rectangular Garnet