Garnet meaning & facts
Garnet is a birthstone for January. Garnet has long been linked with friendship, trust, protection and commitment. Travellers once carried it as a charm to keep them safe on long journeys.
- Birth month
- January
- Colour
- Deep red (also green, orange and purple)
- Mineral
- Garnet group of silicate minerals
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 6.5–7.5
- Main sources
- Found worldwide, including Africa, India, Sri Lanka and the United States
Garnet facts
- The name comes from the Latin granatum, meaning pomegranate, because small red garnet crystals look like pomegranate seeds.
- Garnet is not just red: green tsavorite and orange spessartine are also garnets.
- Garnet jewellery has been found in ancient Egyptian and Roman burials.
Birthstones by month
Frequently asked questions
What does garnet mean?
Garnet has long been linked with friendship, trust, protection and commitment. Travellers once carried it as a charm to keep them safe on long journeys.
What month is garnet the birthstone for?
Garnet is a birthstone for January.
How hard is garnet?
Garnet rates 6.5–7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, which runs from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond).
Gemstone meanings are traditional beliefs, shared for interest rather than as proven properties.