SHOW STOPPING RICH RED GARNET, JANUARY’S BIRTHSTONE




Fancy Faceted  Garnet Bead Necklace

 

Rich-colored red garnets brighten-up my skin on winter days in January just like raspberry red lipstick.  Wear a multi-strand torsade of burgundy garnet nuggets to liven-up or enhance your skin tone, even if garnet isn’t your birthstone.

When shopping online, in stores or at craft fairs, keep an eye out for the beauty of garnet.

 DISTINCTIVE GARNET DESIGN LOOKS:

• Antique “bohemian” garnet jewelry finds like earrings are commonly available set en masse with multiple small stones.
• Modern ring designs showcasing one large, fancy cut solitaire of a high grade colored garnet are rare but can be found with determination. Larger carats are real showstoppers. They are also easy to wear without fear because garnet has a Mohs hardness scale rating of about 7.5.
• Small gems set in artisan crafted sterling silver jewelry are very common.
• Garnet necklaces strung with unusually faceted beads are very distinctive.

Seed pearls or small opals set together with garnets seem to be traditional companions, especially in vintage jewelry.

MORE TO LEARN ABOUT GARNET

I once passed by a little jewelry store on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue that sold beautiful berry red garnet and pearl jewelry designs.  In fact, vibrant red garnet jewelry in various settings was virtually the ONLY jewelry sold in the store!



Garnet Gemstone Rough



Garnet is very common.

This gem is mined on all continents and has been a mainstay of jewelry since ancient times.

And if garnet is your birthstone, but red is not your color, this gem also comes in yellow, green, basic brown and BLUE!

 And if you just CANNOT decide which color you would like to wear, garnet is also available in two varieties of color-change gemstone.

Pat Thomas for Jewelrystash