Art & Artists, Volume 1, number 1, January 1999 Judie's Gems: garnet January’s birthstone is the garnet. Garnets can be obtained in a variety of colors from deep red to brilliant green. The deepest of red is called an almandine; brownish red is a cinnamon; pinkish is rhodolite; and green is a tsavorite. Gems are rated for their hardness on a Moh scale. Soapstone is about a two while diamond, the highest, is a 10. Because a garnet has a hardness of eight, it is a good choice to put in a ring. Garnets have been used as amulets throughout history to protect not only against poisons and plague but to attract health and cheerfulness. So if you’re afraid of lightning, garnet’s your stone! | ||
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