Garnets have been used as gemstones throughout history. It was said that Noah used a lantern of garnet to guide his ark in the night. With a hardness of 7 on the Mohs' scale thay are very durable for use in jewellery. Garnets come from India, Central and South America, Sri Lanka, Russian and African countries.
The name ‘garnet’ comes from the Latin ‘granatus’. When garnet was first found as grains in rock, it was likened to the rich, red seeds of the pomegranate. A Greek myth tells the story of Persephone, the goddess of sunshine, who was abducted by Hades, god of the underworld. Persephone was eventually released by Hades, when he offered her some pomegranate seeds, which made sure she would return to him. It is from this legend that garnet is the protective gemstone for travellers. A gift of the stone symbolises the desire for a loved one’s safe journey and speedy return home. Garnets were widely used in jewellery in Egyptian, Greek and Roman times.
Garnet is the birthstone for the month of January and the Capricorn zodiac sign (December 22 to January 21). It is also the traditional wedding anniversary stone given to celebrate two years of marriage.
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