January Birthstone...

Garnet
The garnet is the traditional birthstone gem for those born in January. Garnet is a beautiful stone which is commonly red but can be found in a range of colors such as yellow, orange, green and even blue.  The reds range from a rust color to a very deep red.  It symbolizes peace, prosperity and good health. Some say it even has the power to give the wearer eternal happiness, health and wealth.  The garnet is a very hard gemstone.  It ranks 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale.  Garnet is found all over the world.  In the U.S., it can be found in Wyoming.  Other places such as Greece, Tanzania, Madagascar, Russian and India also mine garnet.

Garnet jewelry has been a fixture throughout the ages. Garnets were often used as signet rings in ancient Rome, and the nobility favored garnets in the Middle Ages.  The garnet was made popular by the Victorians, who used it to create some of the loveliest jewelry of the era.

There are many legends concerning garnet.  It is believed to bring peace, prosperity and good health if brought into the home.  It is also thought to bring good luck to those who wear it and do good deeds.  However, it can bring bad luck if worn and bad deeds are done. Garnet also symbolizes deep and lasting friendship.  This gemstone was also used as a talisman for protection both by warriors going into battle and to those who wanted to ward off pestilence and plague. Some ancient healers and wise men even placed garnets in wounds and praised its healing powers.  In Medieval times, it protected its wearer against poisons, wounds and bad dreams, and cured depression. Red garnets relieved fever, hemorrhages and inflammatory diseases.

Today, we can just wear garnet and appreciate it for it's natural beauty.

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References/Sources/Credits
https://www.americangemsociety.org/en/garnet-history
https://www.minedirect.com