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January 2025
Garnet
Birthstone of January
With many color variations, Garnet, the birthstone for January, is believed to be a protective stone, shielding the wearer from injury, which made them popular amongst warriors and royalty. It is fitting, then, that our first dispatch in 2025 should focus on one of the more influential gems in western history.
Garnet’s name is derived from the Latin word granatus, meaning “seed” due to the stone’s similarity to the small circular seeds of a pomegranate, often associated with life-giving blood, and the red garnet in particular is connected to vitality, love and light.
The term “carbuncle” was often used in antiquity to refer to red garnets and “carbuncle” was thought to be one of the four precious stones given to King Solomon by God. In the highly superstitious world of ancient Rome, signet rings were made with carved garnets and used to stamp and secure important documents.
Centuries later, red garnet - or, “carbuncle” - was among the most widely traded gems, while in the Middle Ages, red garnet was favored by clergy and nobility.
Garnet's most popular color is red, but the color ranges from deep brown, golden brown, olive green, orange to pink, depending on the gemstone's formation and when presented to natural or artificial light. Rhodolite is said to be a “Stone of Inspiration” and is a variety of Pyrope Garnet. Its name is derived from two Greek words meaning "rose stone,” and it displays all the brilliancy and fire of the Garnets, with a beautiful color ranging from rose red to pale violet.
In my work I use many garnets sourced by looking for the deepest red-colored hues. I am also drawn to rusty-brown garnets, known as Andalusite, and bright green garnets, known as Tsavorite, which are often used in jewelry in substitution for emeralds.
In my pieces, I utilize garnet as I do with materials in all my work, tapping into their historical context and alluding to their physical and spiritual properties. The stories about the special powers of garnet may be folklore, but the exquisite stones I source radiate a timeless beauty. Looking at a jewelry piece which incorporates garnet, one cannot help but be swept up in its cosmic glow.
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