The primary birthstone for January is garnet.

The Origins and Cultural Significance of Garnet
Because garnet ranks high on the Mohs hardness scale (at about 6.5-7.5), artifacts of garnet jewelry dating as far back as 3,100 BC remain today. From these relics, we know ancient Egyptians believed garnet was the symbol of life and would entomb pharaohs with jewelry inlaid with garnet to have in the afterlife.

Ancient Romans in the 3rd and 4th century prized garnet as they believed it could ward off diseases like the plague and protect soldiers during wartime. Carved garnet was also frequently placed within signet rings which were used to stamp the wax seal of important and confidential documents.

When huge deposits of red garnet were found in central Europe in 1500, the stone that was once largely reserved for royalty, nobility, and the clergy became more commonly available. Garnet was particularly popular during the Victorian Era (1837-1901) when it was commonly used in engagement and wedding rings.

Notable Garnet Pieces
Garnet comes in a huge array of colors, orange, yellow, purple, pink, and the most popular of all red. But the rarest shade is blue garnet. Blue garnet was first mined in the 1990s in Madagascar. Blue garnet has high amounts of the metal vanadium which makes the gem look soft blue-green in daylight and then vivid purple under incandescent light. In 2003, the most expensive blue garnet (4.2 carats) sold for a whopping $6.8 million making it one of the most expensive gemstones in the world at roughly $1.5 million per carat.

The Properties and Hardness of Garnet
Garnet is a hard gemstone at 6.5-7.5 on the Mohs scale with harder garnet stones being used industrially to cut steel or as a replacement for silica sand in sand blasting.

Garnets have been found naturally in orange, yellow, purple, pink, green, blue, and even colorless. The most common (and therefore most popular) shade of garnet is red and it’s oftentimes used as an affordable alternative to the rarer and more expensive ruby.

Since ancient times, certain gemstones and precious metals have been ascribed properties that range from the ability to promote spiritual healing to the ability to open up one’s heart. People all over the world collect stones and crystals and use them to release mental, spiritual, and sometimes physical blockages within themselves. In fact, it is for these reasons that gemstones started to be incorporated into jewelry in the first place.

Whether you or your loved ones believe in these spiritual practices or not, a jewelry gift featuring a stone imbibed with spiritual significance would be an excellent choice this holiday season, as a piece could be treasured not just for its beautiful appearance, but also for its deeper meaning.

To help you find a gift that would be incredibly meaningful for yourself or for your loved ones, we’ve put together some gemstones that are commonly used in jewelry and we explore the spiritual significance of each stone and metal.

Amethyst
Previously believed to keep the wearer from getting drunk and cleansing them of toxins, this gemstone is now commonly associated with cleansing the body and soul of negative energy. Amethyst, with its calming purple hue, is a “stress reliever,” of sorts, as it is said that the wearer just needs to press the stone against their skin to calm their senses.

Aquamarine

Associated with the life-giving source of water, the greenish-blue Aquamarine is also thought to “wash away” stress and fear. Sometimes called the “courage stone,” this gemstone is said to have the ability to remove doubt and negative energy and to influence the growth of self-respect and inner peace. Because of its connection to water, it is also rumoured to increase psychic power.

Carnelian

Carnelian is a very high-energy stone. Thought to inspire creativity, self-confidence, focus, and movement, this is the best stone to gift to the creative in your life who has been having trouble manifesting their vision into reality. Its bright orange color is sure to bring vibrancy and vitality to any jewelry wardrobe, but its vibration-spiking spiritual properties would be especially valuable to those who’ve been stuck in a rut.

Citrine

Commonly associated with the concept of sunshine, and especially sunrise, citrine is said to bring prosperity and self-confidence to its wearer. Mostly symbolic of new beginnings, especially in business and relationships, this gorgeous sunshine-yellow gemstone would make an excellent gift around the holidays as a way to usher in a prosperous new year.

Emerald

Unsurprisingly, this vibrant green gemstone symbolizes prosperity and abundance, in addition to balance, wisdom, and maturity. Emerald’s color, which refreshes the eyes and is said to revitalize the body, would make a beautiful statement-making piece in a loved one’s jewelry wardrobe.

Garnet

Found in brownish-black to vibrant red colors, the garnet is a gemstone that is particularly well-known for its healing properties, especially among the Chinese. It is said to clear energy blockages and to influence the wearer to abandon unhealthy mental patterns. Its blood red hue imbues it with intense passion, but it also represents faith and truth—a wonderful gift for a significant other to rejuvenate the relationship and ensure a warm holiday season together.

Jade

Like the green of the emerald, the unique green of jade is said to bring prosperity and abundance to its wearer. It’s the stone of good luck and spiritual guidance, as indicated by its nickname, “the Jewel of Heaven.” Thought to symbolize peace and mental purity, this stone also enhances psychic ability and concentration. This is the gemstone to give the young professional in your life who would benefit from a little extra luck.

Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli is thought to increase one’s spiritual potential. Its appearance—the dreamy blue-black of a sky speckled with white stars and the veins of galaxies—connects it to the spiritual world, and so this stone is said to bring enlightenment and develop wisdom, intuition, and meditation in the wearer. As a stone meant to enhance spiritual awakenings, this is a good gift for the loved one who meditates every day and leaves space for new beginnings in their life.

Peridot

Another green gemstone that brings prosperity and wealth to the wearer, peridot is also said to remove feelings of jealousy, anger, and stress. This bright green stone replaces those toxic feelings with ones that encourage personal freedom and self expression, as well as ones that help heal damaged relationships and hurt egos. For the superstitious person in your life, this would make a good present, as it is also said to ward off evil.

Rose Quartz

The stone of unconditional love, as rose quartz is sometimes called, certainly looks the part with its sweet, light pink hue. This gemstone clears the wearer of fear and resentment and instead fills them with feelings of happiness, forgiveness, and peace. This would be excellent for someone who’s been unlucky in love, as rose quartz is said to invite love into the wearer’s life.

Ruby

Like the garnet, the ruby is said to have great healing abilities, especially relating to blood flow and the heart. This stone is also important to the Chinese culture, as it is believed to help decision-making and improve family matters by improving the wearer’s self-esteem and ability to negotiate. Red is also a color of good luck, passion, and creativity—perfect for a loved one with significant business ventures on the horizon.

Sapphire

The deep, calming blue of this gemstone perfectly reflects its spiritual meaning: sapphire is thought to stimulate thoughts of peace and beauty while eliminating negative energy. Thought to inspire truth and promote a positive attitude towards life, this stone would be a valuable addition to anyone’s jewelry collection.

Topaz

Like the other gold and yellow gemstones, topaz is an energizing crystal with the ability to stimulate mental clarity and wisdom. This stone is also thought to ward off mental exhaustion and help heal traumas. This stone would make an excellent present for someone who’s had a tough year; perhaps it can inspire and rejuvenate them for the new year ahead!

Turquoise

This stone is, for some cultures, the bridge between heaven and earth, sea and sky. Thought to protect and align the chakras, turquoise strengthens the mind and body, improving one’s mental condition, circulation, and meditation ability. This gemstone fosters open communication in relationships and encourages self-expression and spirituality. For the very spiritual person in your life, a piece of turquoise jewelry would make an especially powerful gift this holiday season.

Colored gemstones often switch off with each other as the most popular center stone for jewelry: for years, sapphire was king, then emerald started gaining popularity. Now, red gemstones, especially ruby, are starting to take center stage. Ruby, however, is exceptionally expensive, which is why we’re showing you your options when it comes to more affordable red gemstones that will allow you to stay on trend without breaking the bank.

Red Spinel

While spinel is available in a vast array of colors, red spinel is likely the most popular type. One of the reasons is that the average consumer with a naked eye usually can’t tell the difference between a ruby and a red spinel. But, there certainly are differences between the two.

Mined largely in the same places across the globe, a ruby – a gemstone which is part of the corundum family of minerals – rates at a 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness while spinel comes in at an 8. That means that a negative for spinel is that it’s a less durable option, especially if you intend on wearing it every day. Another downside is that red spinel isn’t as vastly available for purchase as rubies are, making them harder to find. However, because red spinel generally has a better clarity than rubies do, when you find a ruby that’s as imperfection-free as many red spinels, you’re going to pay a lot more money for it.

Garnet

January’s birthstone in the red variety is more on the blood-colored side with brownish undertones, but there are lighter versions of the gemstone out there if you know where to look. Almandine and Malaya garnets are more on the red side, and rhodolite garnets tend to have a purple-pink, raspberry color to them. All, however, are less expensive than a good quality ruby, are fairly easy to find, and will generally give you a similar look for the type of jewelry you’re seeking.

Rubellite

Also referred to as “red tourmaline”, rubellites can range from pinkish-red to bright red, and from purplish-red to reddish-purple, similar to many specimens of ruby. Most red to pinkish-colored tourmalines are colored by manganese but are also known to be colored by lithium. Again, in comparison to a medium to high-quality ruby, tourmaline is an excellent alternative, price-wise, and are widely available in the gemstone market.

If the three options above still don’t seem like they’re exactly what you’re looking for, you can also try looking at deeply colored pink sapphires, fire opals (though they are more of a reddish-orange), and red zircon, though the red variety is a pure color and is extremely rare to find.