Liv's Jewellery Journal

Garnet, the January birthstone, is my Mommas all time favourite! I first fell for it whilst helping her choose her first ring after my becoming a jewellery, a rich wine garnet, adorned by a diamond halo and crafted in a vintage gold setting.

When you hear ‘garnet’, you’re likely picturing a deep crimson gem, when in fact garnet refers to a variety of stones. These gems are composed of closely-related minerals, and span from orange to green, pink to purple, and of course, red! Although it’s now springtime, and our Capricorn babies are likely bejewelled for the year, I couldn’t resist sharing a few of my favourite garnet facts…

1 – Pomegranate 

The name “garnet” roots from the Latin word granatus, meaning pomegranate! Back in ancient times, the word “carbuncle” was used for red garnets and other red gemstones. And for our history lovers, carbuncle is actually believed to be one of the four gemstones that God gave to Solomon! 

2 – Egyptian Royalty

Back in ancient Egypt, pharaohs wore necklaces adorned with red garnets. Crazily, a red garnet bead necklace was actually discovered in an Egyptian grave and is believed to be over 5,000 years old!

3 – European Treasure

In its finest day, garnet truly was a treasure across Europe, and was widely traded during the first century. Back in Ancient Rome, garnet intaglios were used to stamp wax on sealed documents! Over in Germany, the King of Saxony is believed to have owned over 465 carats of garnet. 

4 – The Cure

Now this one is a personal favourite, although no promises as to whether it works! Back in the Middle Ages, garnet was believed to cure depression and certain physical ailments. Who knew?! If that wasn’t enough, they were further believed to protect against bad dreams. True or not, this is no doubt one of the reasons garnet was so highly favoured by the clergy and nobility.

5 – Modern World Garnet

Back in its royale days, garnet was a treasured gem. Around the year 1500, red garnet became more available with the discovery of Bohemian garnet deposits in central Europe.