Garnet is one of the world’s most intriguing gemstones — luminous, richly saturated and deeply symbolic. As the birthstone for January, it represents protection, passion and renewal, making it a meaningful choice for marking the beginning of a new year.
Garnet continues to rise in popularity, admired for its durability, accessibility and the extraordinary variety of colours found within the garnet family. Whether chosen for a bespoke design or a ready-made piece, garnet offers warmth, character and timeless beauty.
What Makes Garnet Special?
Garnet is best known as a deep red gemstone, but few people realise it actually spans a full spectrum of colours. From vivid crimson to earthy browns, fiery oranges and even bright greens, the garnet family is one of the most diverse in the world.
Its key qualities include:
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Brilliance & Fire
Garnets have a high refractive index, giving them excellent brightness and internal sparkle. -
Durability
With a hardness of 6.5–7.5 on the Mohs scale, garnet stands up well to everyday wear when set in rings, pendants or earrings. -
Symbolism
Across cultures, garnet has historically symbolised vitality, devotion, protection and guidance. For January, the stone represents new beginnings and grounded intention.
Varieties of Garnet
The garnet family includes more than a dozen distinct mineral types, but the six most recognised in jewellery are:
1. Almandine
The most common garnet — deep red to brownish-red, often seen in vintage jewellery and classic garnet pieces.
2. Pyrope
A vivid, pure red variety with fewer brown tones. Many “gem-quality red garnets” used in fine jewellery are pyrope or pyrope-almandine blends.
3. Spessartine (or Spessartite)
Ranging from vibrant orange to fiery reddish-orange. Sometimes called “Mandarin garnet.”
4. Grossular
A highly varied group including:
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Tsavorite: A brilliant green garnet, highly prized for its clarity and vibrancy.
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Hessonite: A warm honey-, caramel- or cinnamon-coloured garnet.
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Leuco garnet: Near colourless.
5. Andradite
Includes the coveted demantoid, considered one of the rarest and most brilliant garnets, famous for its exceptional dispersion.
6. Rhodolite
A rose-red to raspberry-purple garnet, known for its softness of tone and beautiful transparency.
Each variety has its own personality, making garnet an exceptionally versatile gemstone family for designers and collectors.
Where Is Garnet Found?
Garnet is mined across the world, with each region producing distinct colours and qualities.
Major Sources Include:
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India and Sri Lanka: Known for warm-toned almandine, hessonite and rhodolite garnets.
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Tanzania and Kenya: Particularly famous for tsavorite and vivid orange spessartine.
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Russia: Home of demantoid garnet, highly prized for its rare green brilliance.
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Madagascar: Produces a wide variety of colours, including exceptional purples and pinks.
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Mozambique: Known for rich, deep red garnets.
Malaia Garnet, Tourmaline and Diamond White Gold Ring
18ct white gold, it features a 2.11ct emerald cut purple-pink Malaia garnet in a tiered claw setting, framed by two emerald cut greenish-blue tourmalines totalling 2.48ct
Garnet in Australia
Australia also produces garnet, particularly in New South Wales and Queensland. While much of it is used industrially, some gem-quality red garnet and orange spessartine is cut for jewellery, adding local relevance to the gemstone for Australian clients.
Bespoke Garnet Jewellery at James Thredgold
Over the years, we’ve created bespoke garnet pieces for clients across Adelaide and Australia — from deep red garnet rings in yellow gold to vibrant garnet pendants and bold cocktail rings.
Garnet’s diversity gives our jewellers extraordinary creative freedom. Its colour intensity holds its own in minimal designs, while its clarity and brilliance make it breathtaking as a centrepiece stone.
Your custom garnet creation becomes a true one-off — a piece that carries meaning, intention and artistry.
Why Choose Garnet for January?
As the birthstone for January, garnet conveys:
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Protection and guidance
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Passion and devotion
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Grounding energy and strength
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Fresh perspective and renewal
It’s a stone for setting intention, marking milestones and celebrating new beginnings — beautifully aligned with the start of the year.
Discover the Collection
Explore the natural beauty of garnet in our ready-made designs, or speak with us about creating your own bespoke piece.
Green Sapphire, Tsavorite & Diamond Ring Yellow Gold
18ct yellow gold ring features a striking 4.00ct oval green sapphire in a four-claw centre setting, accented by pear cut tsavorite garnets and diamonds in claw and v-cap settings.
