Primary Gemstone: Garnet

Alternate Gemstone(s): Rose Quartz

History: Garnet is the traditional birthstone for January. Usually thought of as a Ruby look-alike, garnet is actually a large family of gems that occur in every shade but blue. The varieties most familiar are pyrope (red), almandine (brownish-red), and rhodolite (pinkinsh-violet). Some of the richer colors that are now being seen are an intense green, Tsavorite, a blazing orange, Spessartine, and even a natural color changing variety.

Garnet is said to cure melancholy and warm the heart.