By her who in [January] is born
No gem save garnets should be worn;
They will ensure her constancy,
True friendship, and fidelity.
No gem save garnets should be worn;
They will ensure her constancy,
True friendship, and fidelity.
-Unknown Gregorian Poet
Birthstones are a western tradition dating
back to ancient Judaism. They are different stones that represent each
month of the year. These stones are often used in personalized jewelry.
The birthstone for January is garnet.
The first known reference to birthstones
was by the 1st century historian Josephus. He stated that there was a
connection between birth month, twelve gemstones, and the zodiac. Which
twelve gemstones were the originals is subject to debate. In Exodus,
there are 12 stones on the Breastplate of Aaron, which was historically
worn by the high priest of Judaism. Each stone was said to represent one
of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. However, there are various different
lists of which stones were used, and even Josephus had two different
versions.
By the 20th century, everyone had their own
set of birthstones for each month. To correct this issue In 1912, the
American National Association of Jewelers met in Kansas to establish a
standard, making an official birthstone for each month. The only
addition since then was tanzanite for December.
The birthstone for January is the garnet.
This beautiful stone comes in many different colors, including red,
orange, brown, pink, yellow and green. Some garnets also change colors
between natural and incandescent light, a rare and fascinating quality
in gemstones. Garnet is known to have been used as far back as 3100
B.C.. It’s earliest known use was by Egypt, who used it for jewelry.
Most garnets today still come from Africa.
Garnets are considered to be a symbol of
friendship and trust, making them a great gift for a close companion. In
addition, in many legends, garnets are believed to help the circulatory
system, especially the heart and lungs. In addition, January’s
birthstone is said to increase love, passion, and intimacy.
Garnet pieces from our store in Gainesville.
If you have any interest in either pre-made
or custom designed garnet jewelry, please call us at 352-335-7188, or
email us at jewelry@gator.net. Have a wonderful day.
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