Garnet, The January Birthstone

January February March April May June July August September October November December January Birthstone GARNET FACTS & FIGURES • Name: Derived from the Latin word "granatum", which means pomegranate seed. • Planetary stone: Saturn • Sun sign: Capricorn • Symbolizes faith, truth, and constancy. COLOR VARIANTS Pyrope red garnet Almandine deep red to purple iron alumina garnet Spessartine Manganese aluminum garnet Grossular sub-variants include hessonite/ Deep red Orange Yellow Green Purple Pink Brown Black Colorless cinnamon-stone and tsavorite. Uvarovite green chromium-bearing garnet, one Standard price $40 to $5000 per carat (depending on color and type) of the rarest Andradite sub-variants include demantoid, topazolite, and melanite Russia Scotland- Switzerland- Turkey United States (Arizona) - Myanmar (Burma) Kenya Brazil Tanzania Australia Argentina South Africa PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS Category Crystal Habit General Formula Nesosilicate X,Y,(Si 0,), X represents Ca, Fe2+, Mn, or Mg Y represents Al, Cr, or Fe3+ Rhombic Dodecahedron Cubic Streak Fracture Luster Hardness Conchoidal to uneven 6.5 to 7.5 White Vitreous to resinous (Mohs scale) HISTORY Used to represent the sun in Spanish astrology. Was used as a sacred stone by the Aztecs, Mayans, Native American Indians, South American Indians, 3000 B.C. 2100 B.C. Garnet jewelry has been found Was used in Sumeria in prehistoric graves and African tribal elders. 1912 Declared as the official January birthstone by the American National Association of Jewelers Between 1000 and 2000 B.C. Used by early Romans to engrave portraits 3000 B.C. Bronze Age Used in the Was used in Egypt former Was used Czechoslovakia in Sweden LEGEND • Legend has it that Noah used a finely cut, glowing garnet to illuminate the ark during dark and wet days and nights. • In Islam, the Koran holds that garnet illuminates the Fourth Heaven. • Hebrew texts include garnet as one of the gems found in Aaron's breastplate. • Ancient warriors believed that garnets brought victory. • In Christianity, a blood-red garnet is seen as a symbol of Christ's sacrifice. • It has been said that a garnet engraved with the figure of a lion is an effective charm that preserves health, cures all disease, brings honor to the wearer, and guards from all perils in traveling. HEALING PROPERTIES • Cures depression • Antidote to poison • Protects against bad dreams • Relieves liver, blood, heart, and lung diseases • Enhances sensuality and sexuality • Heals fever and inflammations • Relieves hemorrhages and infections USAGE Mixed with high pressure water and other materials to Garnet sand: • used as replacement for silica sand in sand blasting • used in water filtration media Garnet paper: used to finish bare wood Jewelry cut steel in water jets by cabinet makers AN IDEAL... Gift to friends and Friendship token 2nd 6th, and 19th wedding anniversary gift loved ones who are about to embark on a journey Bradley Cooper Christian Nicolas Bale Cage Oprah Winfrey David Bowie Kate Elijah Wood Middleton Mary J. Blige Mimi Rogers CELEBRITIES Alicia Liam Keys with Garnet Hemsworth ATE Birthstone Ellen LI Cool J DeGeneres Neil Diamond Kate Moss Dolly Parton Betty White Michelle Obama Jason Segel CELEBRITIES SPOTTED WEARING GARNET (7) Mariska Jessie J Hargitay Sofia Selena Vergara Gomez Julia Minka Ormond Kelly Sources: www.americangemsociety.org/january-birthstone (3) www.gia.edulgarnet-history-lore (4) www.jewelsforme.com/garnet-history.asp (1) www.birthdaygems.org/january-birthstone.htm (2) www.famousbirthdays.com/jan.html (5) http://earthsky.org/earth/january-birthstone-garnet (6) http://blog.angara.com/birthstone-gems-and-jewelryljanuary-birthstone-garnet/ 7 http://en.wikipedia.org/wikilAndradite www.bernardine.com/birthstone/garnet.htm www.crystalvaults.com/crystal-encyclopedialgarnet 8 www.thediamond.com/learningcenterlgarnet.html You Tube www.youtube.com/user/brilliancecom http://blog.brilliance.com BRIILIANCE -- E @brilliancecorp Toll Free: 866-737-0754 www.brilliance.com M Email: [email protected] %24 -----