January Birthstone: a Look at Garnets

The new year is a fantastic time to refresh your jewelry and pick out January birthstone jewelry. Garnets are super on trend in 2023, whether it’s your birthstone or not. We’ll explain why garnet gems are hot and what wearing garnet jewelry means. These affordable yet lux gemstones are a must-have this year.

What is a Garnet?

A garnet gemstone has been mined for its beauty since the Bronze Age. Similar to a ruby, these traditionally red gems are vibrant and dazzling, adding a great pop of color to your outfit of the day. Garnet is actually a category name for several similar minerals that include:

Almandine
Spessartine
Grossular
Pyrope
Rhodolite
Andradite
Demantoid

Traditionally known to be a blood-red stone, garnet gems can come in many colors,, including red, orange, yellow, green, and purple. The Pyrope and Rhodolite are the most commonly traded garnet gems, and the Almandine is the most common. The rarest garnet is the demantoid.

How Did The Garnet Gem Get Its Name?

The garnet gemstone got its name from the medieval Latin word grantus, which means pomegranate. This makes sense since the gem’s red color is very similar to a pomegranate seed. Garnet rings were used in ancient Rome to stamp seals into the wax to secure important documents. Nobility during this time preferred garnet stones as their intaglios.

Where are Garnet Gems Mined?

Garnet gems can be found on almost every continent, although Africa is the main supplier.

Garnet minerals are mined predominantly in:

The United States
Myanmar
Brazil
Afghanistan
Iran
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
India
Namibia
Tanzania
Kenya
Madagascar

The African countries are the main sources of the different colored garnets, and Namibia is the main source of the rare demantoid garnets.

What is the Most Famous Garnet Jewelry Piece?

Held in The Smithsonian, an antique pyrope hair combe from the Bohemia mines in the Czech Republic. It was worn during the Victorian era and features a large rose-cut garnet on the crest of the combe and is made almost entirely of garnet stones. Shaped like a tiara, this famous garnet piece is part of the National Gem Collection.

Looking for a trendy zodiac necklace to harness your cosmic energy? Shop our new Zodiac Necklace.

Why is Garnet Chosen for the January Birthstone?

As part of the new year, garnets were chosen as the January birthstone because the gems symbolize mental clarity and banish negative feelings. The stone’s rich red color was a favorite among nobility and clergy, making it an ideal choice for the January birthstone.

What Does January Garnet Mean?

The garnet gemstone is a favorite birthstone and anniversary gem because it signifies:

Love: Wearing a garnet symbolizes eternal love, passion, and purity. That’s probably why it is the traditional gift for the second wedding anniversary.
Luck: Associated with career luck, garnets are said to improve your odds of getting a great promotion or landing that dream job. And if nothing else, you look good wearing it.
Health: Garnets are known for balancing the Root Chakra, which keeps your heart healthy by detoxifying your blood. It may also strengthen your lungs, spleen, and spine.
Loyalty: The garnet balances sexual desire so that you and your partner will be loyal and true to one another.
Friendship: Garnets are meant to heal and strengthen relationships, enabling you to create lasting friendships.

Astrological Benefits of Wearing a Garnet

If you like to optimize your cosmic energy, then the garnet is a must-have gem. By wearing a garnet gemstone, you can:

Ignite passion, love, and stability.
Fortify your mind against evil thoughts.
Improve your ability to achieve goals by increasing drive, self-confidence, and positivity.
Keep you safe while traveling.

But be warned. If you are superstitious, then you need to avoid wearing a garnet with other gems, especially rubies, because it can affect the gem’s cosmic energy.

Are Garnet Gems Trending?

When Pantone named Viva Magenta as its 2023 Color of the Year, the Rhodolite garnet began to trend. This pinkish-purple garnet matches Viva Magenta perfectly. So if you love following trends, you may want to look for Rhodolite garnet jewelry this year.

Love following jewelry trends? Shop our best-selling jewelry to add a pop to your look.

How Valuable is a Garnet?

More affordable than rubies, garnets range in price between $500 to $7000 per carat depending on the:

Weight: The weight of the carat is more important than the size. The heavier the garnet, the more expensive it begins.
Color: Because garnets come in so many different hues, the closer it is to a red color, and its vibrancy increases its value.
Cut: The cut quality also should increase the vibrancy of the gem and the cost.
Mineral Type: Certain garnet minerals are more expensive than others. Almandine is the most affordable, and demantoid gems are more expensive because of their rarity.

When shopping for a garnet gem, you’ll want to note its weight and brilliance. In 2023, you’ll find that Rhodolite gems are a hot trend which can also affect the cost depending on demand. Shop our new arrivals to see what garnet pieces are trending right now.

Garnets are a Great Jewelry Choice

Whether garnets are your birthstone or not, you should have a garnet piece in your accessories this year. You can look for the super trendy purple-pink Rhodolite garnet or a traditional red garnet that can bring you love, loyalty, and luck.

Plus, garnets are bright gems that add a pop of color to your look without being too loud. Chic and sophisticated garnets are a hot trend you should consider.

LaCkore Couture designs stylish, artisan jewelry that stays current on fashion trends and will complement your style. We make high-quality jewelry to appeal to your inner fashionista.

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