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 Garnet is the
mineral of the intensive red color and high rigidity that in appearance resembles
the grains of pomegranate. The name of the mineral comes from Latin «Granatum» which
means grain. Garnet jewelry was used back some time in the epoch of Scythians. The
jewelry with garnet came to Europe in the times of romanticism. And the jewelers
of that period favored for heart-shaped pendants and other jewelry encrusted
with fine garnets stones. Such jewelry is the perfect gift for those who is born
in January since this mineral is the talisman for Aquarius, as well as for
couples who celebrate two years of family life.
Garnet is supposed to be the love stone.
The ability to move blood and entertain
is attributed to the garnet. Thus, this mineral was believed to be the stone of
young girls and single women. At the same time, the garnet is the stone of
anger and passion. Red color garnets are supposed to rouse sexual drive, stimulate
the will and endurance and favor developing self-esteem.
Garnets were
believed to relieve pain and stimulate good labor with pregnant women in Ancient
Rome. Moreover, during the crusades the knights on the way to Jerusalem would
wear the rings with garnet to protect from wounds and poisons.
Garnet
jewelry
The garnet color
varies from intensive red and yellow to green color. Though it is obvious that the
garnet of green color is rare and thus, it appears to be the valuable
mineral. The best minerals are of
brilliant grass-green color, though even the incompetent person cannot confuse
the green garnet with emerald due to the yellowish shade and brilliance of the
former. Garnet is developed mainly in
Africa, India, USA, Brazil, Madagascar and the Urals. Garnets as minerals include almandine (that
is purple-red), grossular (that is colorless, yellowish-to-green), melanite (which
is brown and black), andradite, topazolite, rhodolite and Arizona ruby. The jewelry of green grossular is of great demand
mostly thanks to resemblance of the green grossular with the emerald. The most popular
garnet type is dark-red almandine.
But even the
traditional red garnets differ in shades, from pale-pink to dark purple. Garnet
sizes may vary, and large-sized garnets are not rare.
It is believed
from the time immemorial that garnets bring luck in love, friendship and
protect the bearer from enemies. There was the myth that garnets balance the blood
pressure and stimulate blood clotting and that belief appeared just because of
the intensive bloody color of these minerals. Garnets are also supposed to help
when a person has a high temperature, a sore throat or headache.
This mineral
symbolizes sincere amorous feelings and friendship; it is also called the stone
of honesty.
Garnet rings,
earrings and pendant have won the hearts of many women, and this is because of the
affordable prices for garnet. Besides, garnet is the solid and «unpretentious» stone.
Garnet jewelry sometimes go with pearls or jewelry with other, more modest
stones that may shade the elegant beauty of this mineral.
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