January gemstone: What is red, sparkly, and named after a pomegranate seed?

What is red, sparkly, and named after a pomegranate seed?

by Tawny Reynolds on Jan 05, 2017

I have to admit, the holidays kind of wiped me out this year, and I was really ready for a rest after Christmas! But now the vacation's over, and I'm getting back into the swing of things schedule-wise. How about you? Was your holiday season stressful or relaxing? Are you coming to the new year re-energized and excited? I know I am (part of the reason December wiped me out was that there were so many new things I was excited to start working on, but had to wait!)

And, while this series on birthstones isn't new, one of my favorite things about a new month is that I get to share a new birthstone: red garnet!

Shop Garnet-colored jewelry

Sundrop Jewelry's drops of deep garnet-red glass bring all the traditional color to a very non-traditional design. Go ahead and show your friendship for your eco-conscious, January-born friend with garnet-colored jewelry melted with sunshine, rather than mined from the Earth! ;)

Garnet Fun Facts

Garnet comes in a range of colors, from the traditional deep red to vibrant greens.

Ancient warriors believed that garnets brought victory. The Crusaders used them as protection against wounds and accidents during their journeys. In contrast, Asiatic warriors believed that glowing garnets, used as bullets, inflicted more severe wounds. In 1892, during hostilities on the Kashmir frontier, the Hanza tribesmen fired on British soldiers with garnet bullets, believing them to be more effective than lead bullets. (source)

The name “garnet” traces back to the gem’s resemblance to a pomegranate seed.

Placing a garnet under your pillow supposedly prevents bad dreams and is a ward against the Evil Eye.

Garnet symbolizes eternal friendship and trust - making it the perfect gift for a friend!

P.S. Looking for a different birthstone color? Shop the whole birthstone collection!