Everything you need to know about GARNETS (and how to get yourself some...)

In case you didn’t know, people love garnet. In fact, it's a very popular as a Valentine’s Day gift (ehm ehm, see details at the bottom). But wait, there is so much more to garnet than meets the eye. Garnet’s chemical structure is X3Y2(SiO4)3 , which makes them about a 7 on the hardness scale. This means garnet is a fairly sturdy gem. Pro tip: Just like your heart, your garnet will never break if you are gentle with it and you never give it to someone who will run it over with a truck. 

The word  garnet is from the Latin word ‘granatus’, meaning grain or seed (most likely referring to pomegranate seeds) Garnet  appears naturally in every color in the spectrum, but it is usually a deep rich red. Unsurprisingly, it is associated with love, passion, and the God of war. Pretty dramatic, right?

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Modern New Age types believe garnet can protect travelers. However, the association with journeys is a much longer one historically than you’d think. Archaeologists have found garnets in burial sites, possibly to protect the dead as they traveled to the afterlife, dating back to 3000 BC. Some biblical stories mention that Noah hung a garnet on the ark to help light his way through the flood. 

The Koran describes Heavens light as all pervasive because it glows with garnets. In Ancient Egypt it was known as the Blood of Isis. Some Native American tribes used garnets to decorate dream catchers and the shields they carried while hunting. Many cultures around the world have thought wearing garnet could help break fevers, protect the wearer from poison, reducing swelling, and stop wounds from bleeding. Some Eastern traditions held that dragon’s eyes were made of garnet, others that they were a favorite snack of the mythical beasts. It seems that while everyone has a different reason for liking garnet, we all agree that they are good to have around. 

If red isn’t your thing, check out some of these other colors:

Hessionite is a gorgeous orange- cinnamon garnet that can also appear as a buttery peach color. 

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Tsavorite is a spectacular green garnet found in Canada and Tanzania.  Wiki if you want to know more about Tsavorite.  Go for the Canadian version if you can. Ethical origins go a long way!

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AND if free stuff is your thing, check this out:

Post by Little Bird - Diamond & Engagement Ring Expertise.

To our devoted LITTLE BIRD watchers, we hope you all have a lovely romantic Valentine’s Day filled with sparkle, candlelight and magic. 

Love, 
The Birds