As you can see in the tagline, there is not a single garnet gemstone, but there are different types of crystals belonging to the garnet 'family'. The most common of them are the almandine, andradite, grossular, pyrope, spessartite and uvarovite. But in this article we are not going to investigate each one separately, instead we will be looking at the whole class of beautiful stones included in this group. With flaming red as the predominant color, garnets are not limited to this - they can come in a wide range of tones and hues, from brown to green and from pink to yellow and white.

Garnets have been extensively used throughout centuries for their therapeutic powers and also for ornamental purposes, due to their beautiful and vividly colored appearance. The name of this group of crystals comes from the Latin word 'granatus', which most probably is in close connection with the pomegranate fruit, which is called in Latin 'Punica granatum' and with which many of these stones have many common characteristics - in shape, size and color.

The pomegranate and garnet symbolize eternity in the Greek mythology and they are also present in the legend of Hades and Persephone. Furthermore, it is believed that the biblical Noah himself used a garnet to illuminate his Ark throughout the storm. This is why all the crystals in the garnet family are considered to be of a divine origin and to have the capacity of illuminating the sky on a dark, cloudy night.

History. What many do not know about garnets is that they are really old stones that have played an active part in mythology and history. The first garnet jewelry seems to date from as early as the Bronze Age (around 3000 B.C.), when it was probably used under the form of amulets and talismans. However, given the fact that it has been discovered in graves from that period of time, scientists stated that ancient people may have used these beautiful gems to ease and enlighten the passage of the dead towards better places and also to help their spirits find their way to reincarnation.

The garnets had been worn by many royalties, including Queen Victoria of Great Britain, Queen Mary of Scots and also numerous wives of Russian Czars. During the Middle Ages, the therapeutic powers of the garnet had been discovered by people who started to extensively use these stones for medicinal purposes, to protect them from poisons and infections and also to take care of their cardiovascular system.

Variety and uses. As already mentioned, crystals in the garnet group come in a great variety of colors and this is why they are widely used in the ornamental industry to create beautiful and exquisite pieces of jewelry. However, the most common hue of these gems is deep red, while the rarest and most sought after and appreciated is the blue color, which can easily change to violet.

Nowadays, garnets are mined extensively all around the world, the main deposits being in Brazil, Sri Lanka, Russia, Czechoslovakia, South Africa etc.

Lore and therapeutic uses. With garnets being the symbol of enlightment and guiding, they are used in alternative medicine to help one find balance, harmony and peace of mind and also to keep away or cure a large array of emotional and mental disorders, including depression, anxiety, fear or any prolonged state of distress. These gems can also enhance love and positive emotions and help one find the right way and take the most appropriate decisions in his life.

In that which concerns physical healing, garnets are famous for the ability they are endowed with to preserve the health or cut symptoms of intestinal and stomach disorders. They are also very effective against poisoning and infections and they can help wounds heal faster.

Garnet is also the luckye gemstone for the following signs: Capricorn (in the European horoscope) and Rat (in the Chinese horoscope).