January’s Birthstone: A Symbol of Renewal and Health

January’s birthstone, garnet, is ready to be celebrated at Copper Canary Fine Jewelry Boutique!

Alongside garnet being Allie’s birthstone, we love this gemstone for a number of reasons; the meaning behind why it was chosen for January’s birthstone as one of the top favorites.

Garnet’s name and history

If you’re familiar with this stone you know that it usually presents as a deep red color. In fact the stone’s color inspired its own name as the word garnet is derived from the medieval latin term granatus, meaning “pomegranate”.  Pomegranates have symbolized rebirth, health, fertility, and renewal for thousands of years. It only makes sense then that this gemstone was paired up with the first month of the year, when many embark on new lifestyle changes, begin afresh, and start the calendar once again.

Garnet has a deep role in history as a primary gemstone utilized for a variety of reasons - from being used as an abrasive in the bronze age to adorning pharaohs, clergy, nobility, and royalty all over the world as millennia passed. According to GIA, in medieval times, garnet was used as a medicinal tool to help treat inflammation and to “soothe an angry heart”. Further, Indian astrology believes that wearing a garnet will help reduce depression and anxiety while also boosting confidence and mental clarity.  Historically, wearers of garnet are seen as people who will be graced with happiness, wealth, and health.

Garnets at Copper Canary

Garnet is composed of 5 minerals that work closely to form this gemstone - which results in a fun variety of colors for those born in January. Copper Canary carries a gorgeous assortment of both the red and the lesser-known, vibrant-green garnet, called tsavorite. This makes for a great, more budget-friendly option for those looking for an emerald or green stone!

This gemstone is such a fun one to celebrate not only because of its gorgeous colors and diversity, but because the history of the stone and its uses dates back thousands of years in affiliation with prosperity and health. We invite you to browse our antique and modern collections of garnets and to let us know - do you think that garnets bring prosperity, health, and wealth? From what we’ve seen there just might be something to the lore!