The Best Jewelry for January Birthdays
If you're looking for the best jewelry to celebrate that special someone with a January birthday, check out our guide to the best unique gifts.
You can’t go wrong with the gift of jewelry for your loved one’s birthday. Not only is jewelry beautiful, but it’s also a tangible symbol of the care and love you feel.
However, you may be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of options available to you when it comes to picking the perfect piece of jewelry.
Read on for our recommendations for the best jewelry for your special someone with a birthday in January!
Birthstone Jewelry
Jewelry featuring birthstones are a great gift for a person’s birthday because they are personal, intimate, and also beautiful. The popularity of birthstones rose in ancient times when people thought that each gem contained powers of luck and prosperity.
Back then, people only associated certain gem colors with months and not specific gemstones. We’re now able to differentiate between gemstones, and organizations such as the American Gem Society endorse a gemstone for each month.
Gifting birthstone jewelry essentially means you’re taking part in a portion of history.
Garnet Jewelry
Garnet is the birthstone for January birthdays. Jewelry showcasing this dark red gem are personalized gifts that truly celebrate your Capricorn’s birth.
It’s important to note that garnet ranges between 6.5 and 7.5 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. This means that it’s softer than rubies, sapphires, and diamond jewelry.
However, this makes them ideal for brooches, earrings, and pendants. Areas of the body where they’ll be catching the light will showcase this dark red gem at its best.
Garnet History
Thousands of years ago, garnet jewelry was popular in ancient Egypt and decorated the tombs of pharaohs. Romans traded the gemstones and used them to create signet rings to seal documents. In Asiatic tribes, garnet was worn as protection against wounds and to strengthen weapons because of its similar color to blood.
Garnet comes from the Medieval Latin word granatus, which means seed, referencing the red seeds of the dark red pomegranates that share the same color. Pomegranates have long been symbols of fertility, life, and rebirth from Ancient Greek mythology.
Pomegranates harken back to the story of when Persephone was taken by Hades to the underworld. The seeds are a symbol of rebirth, just as when Persephone was reunited with her mother and marked the spring season.
Garnet is made up of several different minerals, and five are just as valuable as gems:
- Pyrope
- Almandine
- Spessartine
- Grossular
- Andradite
Now, garnet is most commonly found in Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Madagascar.
Garnet Benefits
Some people believe that gems are imbued with health benefits. Garnet is known to be an energetic gemstone because of its resemblance to fire. Because of this energy, it’s thought to increase vitality, protect against negative energy, and worn as a talisman for good luck.
It’s also thought to help build self-confidence and help with a person’s focus in life. It’s known as the “stone of health” because of its ability to improve people’s physical energy as well.
Garnet is also known as the “gem of faith,” as people who wear it and do good deeds find that more good comes their way.
Even if you don’t believe gemstones are capable of improving a person’s life on their own, garnet also has the practical benefit of being relatively affordable compared to rubies.
Types of Garnet
If you’re getting ready to buy your January jewelry, here’s a brief guide on what to look for when considering purchasing a garnet gemstone. Many people are surprised to learn there are different types of garnet that are different colors.
Almandine
A dark red to brownish color, this is the most common kind of garnet. It’s also the hardest kind and is cut for many different kinds of jewelry.
Pyrope
This is a deep red garnet that is one of the most popular because of its rich color.
Spessartite
This is a clear, bright orange color with a special kind of brilliance.
Grossular
In its purest state, this type of garnet will be colorless. However, when impurities are present it can turn into a number of different colors. The green Tsavorite type is one of the rarest kinds of garnet.
Andradite
This comes in a variety of colors but is most commonly known for the green and black colors.
Uvarovite
This only comes in dark green colors and is very rare. They also only come in small crystals.
Along with these six main types of garnet with their own chemical makeup, sources, and colors, each of these types is divided into more groups. These groups can be a blend of species, separate colors, trade names, or sources.
Although this diverse family may seem overwhelming, the main takeaway is to know that the dark red gemstone we’re all familiar with isn’t the only garnet out there! Take a look at all your options and see which one would suit your loved one best.
The Best Jewelry Brings Delight
The best jewelry is the kind that suits your loved one best. You don’t need to go with the most expensive jewelry or the trendiest - what matters is that you’re putting thought into a present that they’ll be wearing for years to come.
Garnet gemstones for January birthdays highlight a person’s birth month and truly celebrate the life they’ve lived.
Ready to make your purchase? Browse our beautiful and one of a kind gemstone jewelry today!
