Garnet, a gemstone for January. 28 January 2018

The given name Garnet is derived from Latin “granatus” meaning seed or grain due to its likeness to the rich red seeds of the pomegranate fruit.
I love to incorporate this gemstone stone within my handmade jewellery. I find the deep lustrous colour perfectly compliments both gold and silver metal work.


Garnet is widely recognised as being red in colour however it can be found to be pink, green and even black. This variety of colour is because of a difference in chemical composition found in the crystal forms.
Garnet is rated a 7-7.5 on Mohs' scale of mineral hardness. This strong durability has provided us with a deep history of the stone. With jewellery artefacts in our museums dating as far back as the bronze age
I often use birthstones in my jewellery work. Garnet is January’s given birthstone.
Throughout history many have believed this stone to hold medicinal powers. In medieval times the stone was worn to protect its wearer against poisons, wounds and bad dreams.

I recently purchased these dainty baguette shaped garnets specifically for my new jewellery designs and I can't wait to start using them to make a new collection of handmade rings.

Constance Isobel - worksho