While garnets are most commonly known for being a deep red and rust color gemstone, garnets are composed of many different minerals, widening the color variety of garnet. Garnet actually has a rich color palette of greens, oranges, pinkish oranges, deeply saturated purplish reds, such as the rhodolite garnet, and even some blues. A green garnet, tsavorite, is the rarest of Garnets and requires specific rock chemistries and conditions to form. It is the birthstone of January and also the gemstone to celebrate a 2nd anniversary of marriage.

The name “garnet” originates from the medieval Latin granatus, meaning “pomegranate,” in reference to the similarity of the red color. Garnets date all the way back to 3800 B.C., where Egyptians wore them as bead necklaces, and were entombed with their mummified corpses as prized possessions for the afterlife. The garnet represented strength and durability. The belief that garnets have the power to shield their wearers from harm is found in many ancient cultures. According to Judeo-Christian tradition, King Solomon wore garnets into battle. During the Crusades, Christian and Muslim warriors both wore garnets. Some also believe that the garnet can protect one from terrifying and evil dreams as well as ward off skin disease and disease of the blood. Garnet has also been associated with the heart, blood, and life force and have long been considered a symbol of love.