Garnet: The Birthstone That Traveled the World

It’s garnet month! Mention January’s birthstone, and consumers familiar with gemstones may picture the familiar rusty red—a deep, earthy shade that separates the stone aesthetically from its arguably juicier counterpart, ruby.

Red garnets are rich in history, dating back to ancient Egypt. In fact, garnet takes its name from the ancient Latin “granatum,” meaning dark red and alluding to the sweet seeds of a pomegranate. (The fruit, by the way, is enjoying a renaissance in the culinary world—an opportunity for garnet, wouldn’t you say?)

The coolest thing about January’s birthstone is not just the fact that it comes in a rainbow of colors beyond traditional red, but that it’s found around the globe. Garnets are like postcards from the many places they’re unearthed: tsavorite from Kenya, spessartite from Namibia, demantoid from Russia. And these are only a few of the most notable places. You could fill a passport exploring the world of garnets.

Happily, many jewelers offer beautiful ways to showcase this month’s celebrated gemstone, from cocktail rings and eye-catching necklaces to demure everyday pieces.

We love each and every one of these designs, which feature garnet in a range of prices, styles, and sizes. There’s a little something for everyone. Those born in January are certainly fortunate to claim such a versatile gemstone. But we’re sure garnets have fans with birthdays in other months, too. If you like color (and who doesn’t?), this is the stone to seek.

These are some of the latest garnet offerings from our brands here at the JCK Show.