| Garnet
occurs naturally in all color shades except blue,
and is actually a family of gems, as opposed to
a particular stone.
The chemical composition of garnet is a varying
combination of Magnesium, Aluminum, Silicate,
Iron, Calcium, and Oxygen. Horded in caves,
or deeply buried in the earth, these glistening
crystals form in various geometric patterns,
found in groups. They're mined across the globe,
in Africa, Australia, India, Russia, South America,
and the United States.
The word garnet originates from the Greek word
"granatus," or seed, due to it's resemblance
to a pomegranate seed, said to have been a gift
from Hades to Persephone upon her return to
Olympus. Red Garnet represents a gift of love
that is continually inviting. It's associated
with attracting love, and strengthening bonds.
Garnets date as far back as the Bronze Age
(3,000 B.C.). They've been discovered in burial
plots in Sweden, Samaria, and Egypt, were used
on signet rings in ancient Greece, and as bullets
in the Indian Rebellion of 1892.
Similar stones, often toted as Garnet by unscrupulous
dealers, are Zircon, Ruby, Spinel, and Tourmaline.
It's nearly impossible to distinguish the difference.
Any garnet purchases should be made from a respected
dealer, or trusted jeweler to avoid imposter
stones.
Choose
your own gorgeous birthstone jewelry at JeGem.com
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