Garnets in January

At the risk of sounding cheesy I have to admit that I love the birth stones. This is an easy sentiment for me to acknowledge, I’m born in July and rubies are the best gemstone around (maybe I’m a little biased). I got lucky, I like red and rubies are strong. If I didn’t love red though, I’d be out of luck. That’s why January birth date holders are a uniquely lucky bunch. Outside of blue, Garnet (January’s birthstone) occurs beautifully in every color. 

This fact confounds many people; most expect an almost murky, burgundy red color. Admittedly most garnets are found in that condition; on the same hand most diamonds are brown and too included to cut and polish. The epitomized natural beauty possessed by gems is defined by the select few, not the majority. Garnets are no different. Emeralds are beautiful there’s no sense denying that, but for my money there’s no green like what’s possible with a Tsavorite garnet.  They’re dynamic and pure, an undiluted forest green. 

Rare varieties of garnet prove to be one of the rare gems where you can encourage inclusions (pictured above); a demantoid garnet without the signature “horsetails” inclusions is a Lynch-less Seahawks; pretty in the right light but lacking substance nevertheless. Mandarin garnets represent the very best available in orange. Whatever color or look you are searching for (even if it’s color changing), there’s a good chance there’s a garnet with your name on it. 

*All images from GIA

-Matt Raine