Garnet is a popular gemstone, used often in wedding and engagement rings. Garnet comes with a variety of colors, red being the most common. But there are also several types of green garnets, a variety of orange, yellow, dark brown, reddish brown and black garnets, and even the red garnets come in a range of reds: purple, pink, orange red, brownish red, deep reds and crimson shades. Placing garnets under different types of light can also make some of them change color. Blue garnets don’t exist but otherwise the color variety of garnets is as wide as that of a rainbow.

The Shine and Durability that Make Garnet Special

What makes garnets especially popular in jewelry making is that they draw light towards themselves and sparkle and dazzle as they reflect the light. A garnet’s shine can last for several years, so a piece of garnet jewelry will last a long time and retain its dazzling appearance. Garnets are often combined with diamonds in jewelry, especially in gold engagement or wedding rings. The hardness of garnets is measured at 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, which makes garnet a fairly hard and durable gemstone.

The Healing Properties and Symbolism of Garnet

Garnets have been used in ancient civilizations for strength, for healing and for protection. Garnets are also believed to heal and uplift a depressed person, and in gem therapy they are said to have an affinity with the heart and the circulatory process.

Garnet is also a traditional symbol of friendship, and in some parts of the world two friends could give each other a garnet, or a piece of garnet jewelry, as a sign of their mutual and lasting appreciation. Garnet is a traditional gift for the 2nd and the 6th wedding anniversary. In astrology, garnet is associated with the zodiac sign Aquarius and it is the birthstone for January.

How to Take Care of Your Garnet Jewelry

Garnet jewelry can last a long time and retain its beautiful appearance if it is stored and taken care of correctly. Always protect your gemstones from scratching (always remove your garnet rings before cleaning or any other domestic duties), from temperature changes and from direct sunlight. Wrap your jewelry in individual pieces of cloth and when cleaning gemstones, use a mix of warm water and mild dish washing liquid or soap. Never clean your gemstones with strong chemicals.