Garnet is the name of at least ten similar mineral species – with many “garnets” being a combination of these minerals. All are quite sturdy and resistant to everyday wear and tear because of their excellent hardness of over 7 on the Mohs’ scale.

Garnet, the January birthstone, derived its name from the Latin word granatus, meaning like a grain - referring to how their crystals resemble seeds embedded in the matrix. Garnet comes in many colors, but a reddish brown is the most common.

The use of garnets as a gemstone can be traced to prehistoric times. Noah is recorded using a garnet lantern to steer his Ark through the darkness of the night. Garnets are found in jewelry from ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman eras. Travelers wore garnets as they were considered talismans and protective stones, because it was believed garnets illuminate the night and wore off evil. Said to remove nightmares and depression. Today science says the proverbial luminosity of garnet is caused by its high refraction.