15 Fun Things to Know about Garnet Gemstone
If you mention garnet gemstone, the first colour that comes to mind is a deep red with a bit of a brown hint to it. Maybe not the most exciting gemstone colour, a solid, reliable type stone. But the reality is that garnet comes in loads of different colours including bright greens, pinks and even orange! Want to learn more fun facts about garnet gemstone? Okay, let’s go!
1. Science stuff
Garnets are all types of silicate materials but have slightly different chemicals in them that create the different colours. Gemstone quality stones are transparent while those used for industrial jobs such as for abrasives tend to be opaquer like an emerald. They are around 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness so around the middle.
The name garnet comes from the Latin granatum which mean pomegranate due to the way that the red gemstone looked like the seeds of the fruit. They were known as carbuncles in Celtic and Anglo-Saxon times while the Hebrew name bareketh means ‘flashing stone’.
2. There are lots of types of garnet
About the only colour, you don’t see much in garnets is blue – otherwise, there are varieties in almost all other shades. Most have their own name including:
- Almandine – red-brown in colour, used as a talisman for protection and unyielding strength, boosting willpower and resistance to negative things. It is associated with the 1st Chakra, with psychic protection and physical love
- Andradite – green or olive, dark yellow or black in colour it is associated with higher thinking and self-empowerment. It is associated with the base, heart and solar plexus Chakra
- Grossular – yellow, gold, orange, scarlet and red but most often green, this is a stone of abundance and prosperity that is associated with the base, sacral, solar plexus and heart Chakras
- Pyrope – rose to crimson red, scarlet, violet and indigo, this stone gives inspiration and charisma, helps you to own your own gifts and share with others. It is associated with the base and Crown Chakras
- Spessartine – one of the rare garnets, it is dark gold, orange, scarlet or deep red, occasionally pale yellow. It helps with the analytical side of the mind and alleviating fears and is associated with the sacral and solar plexus Chakras
- Uvarovite – emerald green, the only type of garnet that is always green, it forms in small crystals rather than larger stones. It promotes wealth and prosperity while stimulating the heart Chakra
Uvarovite garnet 
Andradite garnet
3. Noah used a garnet lantern
Garnet gemstones have been used in jewellery since Bronze Age times. But one notable mention of them was when Noah used a lantern made with garnet to help guide the ark during the 40 days of the Flood. Garnets became a talisman for travellers and in Islam, garnet is said to light the fourth heaven.
4. Garnet gemstones were popular from Greek times
Jewellery made with garnets was popular in Greek and Roman times while during the Middle Ages, it was said to enhance truth, faith and constancy as well as help clear melancholy. Both the Crusaders and their Muslim enemies wore garnet as a Warrior’s Stone.
5. Asiatic tribes used it in bullets for slings
Garnets and their blood colour were used as bullets for slings in place of lead by some Asiatic tribes. They believed that the gem would cause more damage because it was the colour of blood than a simple bit of lead. This belief was seen right through to 1892 when the Hanzas rebelled and used garnet missiles against the British soldiers in Kashmir.
6. Garnets help reduce toxins
Garnet gemstones are believed to reduced toxins in the body when worn, helping to purify vital organs and blood as well as to help the body take in more vitamins and minerals from what you eat.
7. They are a protective and calming influence
The stones also have emotional benefits, protecting the wearer and offering a calming influence. They can help when you are melancholy or depressed, give you courage and hope and even boost the surviving instinct.
8. Garnet gemstone cleanses and re-energises the chakras
In Chakra healing, the gem is said to cleanse and re-energise the chakras, purifying and balancing the energy of the body while bringing either serenity or passion where needed. It is great for easing emotional disharmony with red garnets also helping with sexual potency.
9. They help you be more perceptive of other people
People believe that garnets help you be more perceptive, of yourself and of other people. It helps to change behaviours that aren’t helping you and clear away outdating or obsolete ideas. They are also known as the Stone of Commitment – to a purpose, to other people or to yourself.
10. Garnets could ward off evil spirits
Not only can the garnet help you ward off your own inner demons but also night phantoms and demons around you. In other words, the stone would be placed under the pillow and help stop nightmares when you slept.
11. They are the January birthstone
Garnet is traditionally associated with the month of January and is the birthstone for anyone born in the first month. It is also associated with the zodiac sign Aquarius from January 20th until February 18th.
12. It is associated with the 2nd, 6th and 19th anniversaries
Garnets are given as a gift at the 2nd, 6th and 19th wedding anniversaries. It is a symbol of love and is associated with the pomegranate which is a symbol of eternity.
13. Garnet is the state gemstone of New York
If you live in the state of New York in the US, then garnet is the state’s official gemstone. The almandine garnet is also the state stone of Connecticut while the star garnet is the state gemstone of Idaho.
14. Garnet was seen as a protector
The Warrior’s Stone was one of the names for a garnet and the talisman was also said to protect against poisons. Garnets are also enhancer strengthener crystals that have perfect cubic symmetry and harmony and are used to build success in life.
15. They can help you in business and ease depression
If you are in business, then garnet is a great gemstone for you. It attracts people to you which helps with success for your company and is great if you are entering new business realms.
Conclusion
Garnet gemstone has lots of historical associations and can help in many areas of life – well, at least it might! As always, I can’t be sure that any of these things will happen but if nothing else, you can get a gorgeous piece of garnet jewellery and it may have amazing benefits for your life!
