Notes
Garnet crystal with smoothed sides.
Garnets are the January birthstone. They come in a wide variety of colors and are incredibly durable. Garnet jewelry has been found dating as far back as the Bronze Age (3300 BCE). Ancient Egyptians saw this gemstone as a symbol of life and used it in their jewelry and carvings. It was a popular gemstone with the Romans; the durability of the stone made it a popular medium for signet rings. In the Middle Ages they were viewed as a cure for depression. In the later 19th century, they were used as bullets.
