Garnet is a naturally occurring gemstone. Garnet is a family of related minerals rather than a single gemstone. The popular understanding of garnet is as an inexpensive dark red stone. Because it is relatively common and inexpensive, it is often thought of as `only garnet`, and as being inferior. Garnets are actually one of the largest families of gemstones. Garnet is a reasonably priced stone. It is beautiful in rings, pendants, necklaces and bracelets.

The garnet is considered to be the birthstone for Capricorn. The time ranges from the month of December 22 to January 19. It is also the 2nd and 6th marriage anniversary gemstone.

Origin of Garnet
Garnets were so called by the ancient Greeks. This is because of the fact that colour reminded them of the pomegranate seed or granatum. It is also believed that its name comes from Latin word "granatus" meaning seed, because it often resembles small round seeds when found in its matrix rock.

Garnet can be called as one of the world`s most ancient gems; garnet has been treasured for thousands of years. Since then Garnets are used widely as an abrasive. Garnets are said to have been used by Asiatic tribes in place of bullets.

Appearance of Garnet
Garnets occur in a very wide variety of formations, colours and clarities. Garnets are a group of common silicate minerals that have similar crystal structures and chemical compositions. It can be translucent to transparent, sometimes opaque with a vitreous or resinous lustre. The best known type of garnet is red semi-precious stone pyrope, one of several red gems. Most natural garnets are mixtures of two or more of the following pure species: pyrope, almandine, spessartine, uvarovite, grossular and andradite.

Colour of Garnet
The versatile garnet comes in a virtual rainbow of colours, including pink, red, purple, orange, yellow, violet, green, colourless, occasionally black, and brown and many shades of red and green. The most common colour of garnets is reddish brown whereas the most prized garnet is an emerald green variety called "Dermatoid" and is a member of the andradite group.

Varieties of Garnet
There are some major types of garnets. The names can be mentioned as Almandine, Pyrope also called Bohemian garnet, or Cape ruby, Spessartine, Grossular also called grossularite, or Gooseberry garnet, Andradite, Rhodolite, Carbuncle, Hessonite also called essonite, or Cinnamon stone, Topazolite, Uvarovite and Uralian emerald or demantoid.

Benefits of Garnet
Garnet is an excellent assistance for blood deficiency diseases. It stimulates bloodstream and pituitary gland, relieves rheumatism and arthritis pain. Garnet combats depression and lethargy. Garnet also stimulates the spleen properly, cures fever and promotes good health. Garnet should be carried close to the body. Its energy is balancing and peaceful.

Garnet gives energy and courage. It is said to encourage robust good health and sexual desire. The stone also enhance the wearer`s imagination. Garnet symbolizes fire, faith, courage, truth, grace, compassion, constancy and fidelity. It also offers protection to the traveller. The Garnet is a stone of purity and truth as well as a symbol of love and compassion. Garnets are also known for stimulating success in business.