
As I mentioned in the December newsletter, over the next year I am going to create Fused Glass birthstones. Each months birthstone starting with January’s birthstone will be listed in the first blog of the applicable month. I will also list each birthstone, its background, and its metaphysical properties.
January’s birthstone is the Garnet. Garnet is also the gemstone recognized as the second year anniversary. Garnet signifies eternal friendship and trust and is the perfect gift for a friend. Garnet is also considered Capricorn birthstone. Garnet, derived from the word granatum, means seed, and is called so because of the gemstone’s resemblance to a pomegranate seed. References to the gemstone dates back to 3100 B.C., when the Egyptians used garnets as inlays jewelry. Garnet is the name of a group of minerals that comes in a rainbow of colors, from the deep red of the pyrope garnet to the vibrant green of tsavorites.
Colors & Care of Garnet
Garnets occur in all colors including: red, purple, brown, green, orange, yellow, colorless and even black (except blue). Usually garnets have bright colors. Many people including experts often mistaken garnet as ruby as both color looked alike albeit they are completely different. Garnet is a durable stone (7 to 7.5 on the hardness scale). Garnet is also one of the few untreated gems. Depending on the color, quality, and size of a garnet, cost is from $40 to $5000 per carat.
Clean garnets with warm soapy water and a soft brush. Rinse the stone well after washing it and dry with a soft cloth. Ultrasonic treatments may also be used (except the demantoid variety). Do not steam clean a garnet. As with other gemstones, take care of garnets and protect it from sharp blows, harsh temperatures, and chemicals.
It is believed garnets have Metaphysical Properties:
- Give peace of mind.
- Enhance cleverness.
- Increase the feeling of proudness
- To warn the wearer of the incoming dangers (usually the color of the stone suddenly changes).
- To protect one from harm.
- To enhance the sense of justice, honesty and sympathy.
- To make people sympathetic.
- Helping people to become tough and endure hardships.
- To oppose black magic and negative energy.
*Although Garnets come in most colors, my fused glass faux “Garnet” is red. For the fused glass birthstone version of January’s “Garnet” I used garnet frit in addition to various other shades of red.
As I mentioned in the December newsletter there are many advantages of fused glass over typical gemstones. Fused Glass is less expensive, more durable (than some birthstones), and can be bigger than typical gemstones. Moreover, Fused Glass gemstones can be made into anything not just earrings, pendants, rings but also key chains, bookmarks, pillboxes etc. As for cleaning a Fused Glass Faux Garnet, clean with a jewelry cloth, alcohol, and water. Additionally if Fused Glass is scratched, it can normally be repaired without much additional cost, as for an actual gemstone they are not as easy to fix.
Please let me know if you would like a Fused Glass Garnet. If you would like something other than a pendant i.e., a wine stopper, night light, etc., just email me and I can create a custom fused glass piece. At this time I have a rectangle and circle but if you would like your fused glass garnet another shape please let me know.
If you get a chance, check out all my sites, Fused Glass by Karen, My Etsy store, my Art fire Store, my Pinterest, and my YouTube Channel.
If you would like to stay abreast of what I’m up-to and learn a little more about jewelry, check out our newsletter. It is published the last Sunday of each month.
Keeping my Kiln warm,
Karen