Fern necklace by Michael Michaud, with delicate red garnet drops Garnets have been worn and loved by collectors for millennia. They have adorned the finery and armor of royalty in ancient Egypt and Renaissance Europe, and carved into signet rings used to seal the deal on matters of state. In the modern day, they are loved for their beautiful color, and treasured as the birthstone of the month of January.
When imagining garnets, the color that comes first to mind for most is deep red - in fact, the word "garnet" derives from the word pomegranate, whose red seeds the gems were thought to resemble. In truth, garnets are a group of related stones with similar chemical and geological properties. The unique geological conditions under which the different "species" of garnets form give them different sizes, shapes, and colors. From rich wine-red pyropes and cheery orange and coppery-brown spessartines, to grassy yellow andradite and brilliant green grossular garnets, the garnet group offers a rainbow of colors for gem lovers to adore.
In addition to holding pride of place as January's traditional birthstone, garnets are a popular gift in celebration of second wedding anniversaries. And of course, their lovely red varieties are a romantic choice for a Valentine's Day gift for your sweetie!
When imagining garnets, the color that comes first to mind for most is deep red - in fact, the word "garnet" derives from the word pomegranate, whose red seeds the gems were thought to resemble. In truth, garnets are a group of related stones with similar chemical and geological properties. The unique geological conditions under which the different "species" of garnets form give them different sizes, shapes, and colors. From rich wine-red pyropes and cheery orange and coppery-brown spessartines, to grassy yellow andradite and brilliant green grossular garnets, the garnet group offers a rainbow of colors for gem lovers to adore.
In addition to holding pride of place as January's traditional birthstone, garnets are a popular gift in celebration of second wedding anniversaries. And of course, their lovely red varieties are a romantic choice for a Valentine's Day gift for your sweetie!
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