January Birthstone: Garnet Jewelry

About Garnet: the January Birthstone

The January birthstone is garnet, a deep red stone long tied to friendship, trust and loyalty. Garnet jewelry in the traditional red is cut from the pyrope and almandine varieties of the garnet group. The name comes from the Latin granatum, meaning pomegranate, after the seed-like glint of a well-cut stone.

Garnet rates about 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. That makes it more durable than softer birthstones such as opal or pearl, though it is not as hard as sapphire or diamond, so a garnet ring worn every day will pick up fine scratches over the years. Red garnet is usually sold untreated, with no heating or oil, so the colour you see is the colour the stone formed with. If you want to confirm that for a specific piece, ask us in the showroom.

Two settings suit garnet well. A bezel wraps the edge of the stone and protects it in a ring that takes knocks, while prongs let more light into the stone in a pendant. Garnet looks warm in yellow gold, which picks up the red, and crisper in platinum. Some designs pair the garnet with small natural diamonds.

Why buy garnet from ATL Luxury Jewelry?

ATL Luxury Jewelry has been open since 2008, with a showroom at 1905 Scenic Hwy N Ste 230, Snellville, GA 30078, and holds 300+ five-star Google reviews. Catalog pieces are made to order. We design custom pieces with you in the showroom, so book a design consultation if you want a garnet made to your own plan.

Cleaning, inspection and prong tightening are free in store, and engraving is free at purchase. Resizing, polishing and repairs are covered by our care plans, so a garnet piece stays in good shape long after the day you buy it.