Garnet : Birthstone of January : Unknown Fact about your Birthstone

Things You Surely Didn’t Know about Garnets Before 

The New Year is upon us and it’s about time for the January born folks to prepare for the back-to-back bashes because New Year’s and birthdays both call for some serious celebration. For those who are born on the first month of the year, garnet is your gemstone. Warm, radiant and fantastic, nothing defines the key qualities of a January born person better than its birthstone.

While most people are familiar with garnet eternity rings and garnet engagement rings and the fact that it is the gemstone of January, there are some facts about this gemstone that are still unexplored by most. For instance, did you know that garnet stands for virtual qualities such as loyalty, enduring affections and a light heart? Yes, that is only the beginning of the many fantastic facts that surround this superb and lively stone.

A bust for the most dominant myth of all, garnets are not always red. Yes, natural garnets occur in many colors aside from red, such as green and black. There is even a colorless variety that mimics achromatic diamonds pretty closely, although it does not match up to the fire and scintillation of the latter.

The third thing you probably didn’t know about these interesting looking stones is that they are not mined underground. Yes, they do not occur in the womb of the earth like other gemstones. They strewn the banks of forest streams and brooks with pebbles after the rocks they are ensconced inside weather off.  

Merry Christmas from AG & Sons

Christmas- For You and Me

With Christmas only a day away, cities and suburbs across United Kingdom have dressed and lit up for the biggest festival of the year. Holiday lights, holly wreaths, Christmas trees, mistletoes, nativity scenes are everywhere you look. While towns and cities take up a festive verve, people join in the merrymaking getting busy with the Christmas rituals of giftwrapping, Christmas trees decorating, setting out cookies and milk for the elusive Santa and cooking delectable dishes for friends and family.

If you are one of the millions of people who wait for this time of the year with great anticipation, then you must be all caught up in the Christmas fever.

While you pick out gifts like engagement rings and earrings for your loved ones, whip and brew scrumptious refreshments for the guests and prep the house for your family and friends, take a moment to be forgiving and loving to those who are not directly related to you.

Keep it down for your neighbors, donate to charities for the have-nots, and make it up with those you have had tiffs and trifles with earlier in the year.

On the whole, the very spirit of Christmas is to welcome love and happiness into your heart and your life. So, make the most of it by being nice to others, smooth out old differences and put a smile in the face of those you love and care for, because nothing brings more happiness and contentment than to see a happy face knowing that you may have a little something to do in it.  

Birtstone of January : Garnet

The world of Garnet is not just vast and colourful beyond imagination, it is also associated with myriads of interesting phenomena that throws much light on its intricacy and uniqueness. The term ‘garnet’ is used to describe a large cluster of rock-forming minerals, where all the garnet species share the same crystal structure and physical properties but differ in their chemical composition. Gemmologists have identified six garnet species; pyrope, spessartine, almandine, grossular, andradite and uvarovite. However, mineralogists claim to know about more than 30 others. Garnets are divided into two main solid solution groups; the pyralspite and ugrandite. Pyrope, spessartine and almandine constitute the pyralspite group whereas uvarovite, andradite and grossular make up the ugrandite group.
AG & Sons takes pride in their beautiful collection of garnet jewelleries. We believe that a piece of jewellery should look stunning from every angle and it is this belief which has led us to be the perfectionist we are widely known for. Our garnet jewelleries are not just uniquely designed but are also architecturally spectacular. But before we divulge into our collection further, let us take a look at the history, its sources, its formation and the various properties it is blessed with.

The History and Lore of Garnet:

Garnet has a long and intriguing history that goes thousand of years back. Garnet jewellery surfaced from the Egyptian, Greek and the Roman ruins. Red garnet necklace was used by the Egyptian Pharaohs to adorn themselves. They were also used for ceremonial purposes, wherein the garnet jewellery was buried with their mummified corpses. Garnet ring was worn by the Romans who also traded the gemstone. The ancient Jewish text the Talmud, divulged that the only source of light on Noah’s Ark was from a garnet. Back in the olden days, garnet was used by travellers as a talisman and protective stone. Interestingly, garnet was also used as bullets by the Asiatic warriors as they were believed to inflict a more severe wound than even the lead bullets.
In the ancient times, the term carbuncle was widely used to identify the red garnets though it was simultaneously used to refer to any red stone. The finding of the Bohemian garnet deposits in Central Europe led to an increased availability of red garnet which eventually found its way to the regional jewellery industry. Until the 19th century it was regarded as the world’s largest source of garnet. Garnet’s popularity reached its peak in the 18th and 19th century in Europe. Their use in the Victorian era was also very rampant and one could see a surge in garnet necklace, garnet bridal set ring, garnet eternity ring, garnet earrings and garnet ring. The discovery of the bright green grossular garnet in East Africa in late 1960’s and the fiery orange, spessartite garnet on the Angola-Namibian border in the 1980’s further led to its widespread popularity and use.
The term ‘garnet’ has been derived from the 14th-century Middle English word ‘gernet’, which implies ‘dark red’. It is believed to have come from the Latin granatus, from ‘granum’ which means ‘seedlike’. In all possibilities, this refers to ‘mela granatum’ or what is also known as ‘pomum grantum’ or ‘pomegranate’, the fruit of which contains bright red seeds, similar in shape, colour and even size to some types of garnets.

How are Garnets Formed:

The garnet which we today use in engagement rings, bracelet, eternity ring and bridal set ring are mostly found around the world in sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rock, they are also found in subsurface magma chambers, volcanic eruptions, lava flows, etc. Garnet found near the earth’s surface take birth when a sedimentary rock of a high aluminium content, is confronted with intense heat and pressure, which eventually produces gneiss or schist. One can also find them in the soils and sediments of weathered and eroded garnet-bearing rocks.

Sources of Garnet:

The largest supply of garnets today is found in the continent of Africa. India, Brazil, United States and Soviet Union are other sources of garnet. Garnet is basically found all over the world. However, different types of garnet occur in different places. Yet, unparalleled stands the beauty of rings, pendant, bridal set, earrings, necklace and bracelet made out of garnet.
The major sources of almandite for example are India, Mozambique and Brazil. Rhodolite are sourced from Tanzania and Sri Lanka. The Demantoid garnet comes from Russia and Namibia. Spessartite is found in Zambia, Nigeria, Madagascar, Namibia and California whereas Pyrope is largely found in Thailand, India, Sri Lanka and Brazil.

Garnet Colour and Properties:

Speaking of colours, garnet is widely associated with a rich deep red. In fact, not many are aware that garnet comes in a plethora of other colours like green, yellow, orange, purple, pink, clear white and even in fine earth-coloured. The colour is primarily controlled by its composition. Garnet is famous for its colour-change phenomenon. They deliver a different set of colours in natural and artificial light.
Colour changing garnets mostly has colours ranging from green to brown to yellow in broad daylight and change to reddish or violet in incandescent light. Pyrope garnets are purplish red or orangy red. Spessartine garnet comes in reddish brown or blackish brown. Andradite garnet can be greenish brown or grayish black. Garnet is basically found in all colours except blue. However, owing to the colour-changing factor of the garnet, some specimens may even deliver a bluish colour in very rare circumstances.
Be it any garnet gemstones, you will discern excellent hardness which goes up to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. Garnet gemstone does not possess any cleavage and their unparalleled beauty lies in their high refractive index. Since garnet contains high concentrations of iron or manganese, a quick way to recognize them is with the use of strong neodymium magnets.
Due to the deep red colour, garnet radiates well as an engagement ring, eternity ring and bridal set rings. The availability of garnet in other beautiful colours, gives you the option to opt for bespoke necklace, pendant, earrings and bracelet in different colour combination.

Healing Properties Associated with Garnet:

Garnet is today hailed as the birthstone for the month of January. They stand as a symbol of truth, love, compassion, purity, trust and eternal friendship. They are endowed with great healing properties, as they are known to heal the wearer against health problems related to the lungs, heart, blood and various other infections. They are blessed with such medicinal powers as protecting the wearer against 2.53poisons, bad dreams, wounds, etc. They provide relief to people suffering from inflammatory diseases, fever and even hemorrhages. They even have the ability to cure the wearer from depression and helps to promote the feeling of stability and security.
Garnet’s natural and unadulterated beauty, fiery brilliance, clarity and range of colours contribute to make it a gemstone which every woman will instantly fall in love with. Garnet is as mesmerising as the sun-kissed colours of a gorgeous summer evening. It is a gemstone bubbling with enthusiasm and sensuous energy. Its enduring and insensitive nature makes it an ideal gemstone for everyday wear, whether in the form of a necklace, pendant, earring, bracelet or even ring. A beautiful gift from nature, garnet has already found its way into the wardrobe of many modern women. Needless to say, it is a must have if you are a gemstone lover.

The collection of Garnet Jewelries at AG & Sons

Our sweeping collection of garnet jewelries is one of a kind. We have garnet earrings, garnet necklace, garnet engagement rings, garnet bracelet, garnet pendant, garnet stud earringsand the like. We even cater to garnet bridal set rings which you will perhaps not find elsewhere. All our garnet jewelries have been designed by our top notch designers who painstakingly work towards making every piece breathtakingly beautiful. So if you are looking for garnet jewelries, then AG& Sons is the right place for you.

Amazing Peridot - Birthstone of August

Green, the colour of our natural world, is overwhelmingly associated with positivity. Blessed with such a gracious colour is the gemstone peridot. A mere look at it is enough to induce in you a sense of positive energy. In use since the ancient times, the gemstone is still very much valued today. It is regarded as the most ideal coloured gemstone for the summer wardrobe. No wonder, it is also a gemstone associated with August month. In fact, in recent years, its popularity has stemmed from the fact that it is an August gemstone and brings the wearer good luck, growth, peace and success. The enthralling colour of peridot is what attracts the admiration of people the most. The stone is relatively inexpensive, light and blessed with an unparalleled beauty.
The name ‘Peridot’ seems to have come from the Arabic word faridat which means ‘gem’. The Oxford English Dictionary however, suggests that it came from classical Latin paederot which is a kind of opal. There are other reports which claim that the term comes from the French word ‘peritot’. Peridot is sometimes known as ‘the poor man’s emerald’. It is also referred to as ‘chrysolite’, a Greek word for ‘goldstone’. Peridot is a very old gemstone, but still today it manages to lure people by its sheer beauty. They are widely mounted on rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, pendants, engagement rings, eternity rings and bridal set rings. Needless to say they make an excellent gemstone for jewellery and its hardness, durability and attractive colour make it ideal for everyday use.
‘AG & Sons’ has a beautiful collection of jewelleries in peridot. They are our prized possession owing to its attractiveness and affordability. We have peridot in many interesting shapes and sizes. While you can opt to customise a jewellery piece with peridot, you can also go through our wide display of peridot jewelleries like earrings, rings, pendants, bracelets, necklaces, engagement rings, eternity rings and bridal set rings.

The History and Lore of Peridot

Peridot has a fascinating history. One of the world’s oldest gems, peridot’s discovery dates back to as early as 1500 B.C. According to some records, the first stone was discovered in the Egyptian Red Sea, on the Topazo island now known as St. John’s. Apparently the islanders were forced to mine day and night to excavate the gemstone. The gemstone could only be spotted during daytime owing to the beautiful glow it radiated under the sun. This led the ancient Egyptians refer the gemstone as ‘the gem of the sun’.
The Egyptians also regarded peridot as a spiritual gemstone and as per records, Egyptian priests would grind peridot and brew a strong beverage out of it for consumption during ritual ceremonies. There are archeological evidences to show that Cleopatra’s favourite gemstone were actually peridot and not emerald as was previously deemed. Nevertheless peridot has an irrevocable connection with Egypt and today is hailed as its the national gem.
According to the ancient Hawaiian folklore, peridot was the hardened tears of the goddess Pele, who was a powerful goddess associated with lightning, volcanoes and fire. It was known as the ‘evening emerald’ by the ancient Romans because its colour darkened at night though it glowed brilliantly under artificial light. Peridot was found mentioned in the Bible under the name ‘pitdah’, a Hebrew name. The gemstone was brought to decorate the plates and robes in medieval churches in Central Europe by the crusaders. It was also believed that Napoleon used peridot to convince Josephine of his love and commitments. The ancient Hebrews also knew much about peridot as it was found mentioned in the apocalypse text and was also used by Aaron.
Throughout history, peridot was associated with many magical powers. Legends believed that if it is set in gold, it exhibits its full power as a talisman and could be used to dispel bad-dreams, terrors and night-fears. For many years, the 200 carat gem that adorned the shrine of the Three Holy Kings in Germany’s Cologne Cathedral was thought to be emerald only to be discovered later that it was peridot. The people of the medieval age believed that peridot was used to cure sick individual, cure respiratory and heart issues.
Peridot’s popularity can be ascertained from the fact that it is still widely admired and favoured over other gemstone. Its beauty intensifies when set in metals like gold as rings, necklaces, pendants, bracelets, earrings, engagement rings, eternity rings and bridal set rings.

Formation of Peridot

It is a gem variety of Olivine, which is a silicate mineral rich in iron and magnesium. The formula of Olivine is therefore (Mg, Fe)2SiO4 which shows the presence of both iron and magnesium. Peridot is formed when olivine crystallizes, a process which takes place under extended periods of high pressure and temperature in rocks where the mineral olivine is present. The process is known to take millions of years. Olivine is primarily found in places of extreme heat and pressure, like mantle of the earth and volcanic rock. The peridot crystals, created in the magma in the upper mantle appear to the surface either by volcanic or tectonic activity. They normally appear in extrusive igneous rocks. Olivine mineral may be found in abundance, but it is rare to come across a gem quality peridot. This is because of the chemical instability of the mineral on the surface of the earth.
Much of gem peridot are born in igneous environments, however, they are also found in some types of meteorites though very rare. Many varieties of gems were found in meteorite, however, it was discovered that peridot is the only one which is large enough to be used in jewellery like rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, pendants, engagement rings, eternity rings and bridal set rings. A meteorite was believed to have landed in Siberia in the year 1749. It was found to contain innumerable pieces of peridot crystals which were big enough to be set into jewellery.

Sources of Peridot

The deposits of peridots are found in various parts of the world. Australia, China, Myanmar, Mexico, Brazil, Kenya, Pakistan, USA, Egypt, Tanzania are some of the places from where peridot is sourced. The finest quality peridot comes from Mogok in Burma, and Pakistan in the Kashmir region. USA was considered to be the largest supplier of peridot for many years with the San Carlos Reservation of Arizona as a significant source. Of late, China has become the largest source of peridot.
Peridot’s abundance and availability along the length and breadth of the world makes it an ideal gemstone for use in jewellery like rings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, eternity rings, engagement rings and even bridal set rings.

Peridot Color and Properties

A striking fact about peridot is, it is one of the very few gemstones that are available in a single colour. It is usually a rich, green colour with a hint of gold cause by the presence of a small amount of iron. However, the intensity of the green colour may vary depending on the amount of iron content. The tone of the colour can therefore vary from yellow-green and olive and may even appear brownish green. The colour exhibits best under natural light. Peridots with an iron percentage of less than 15% and with elements of chromium and nickel are considered to be the best coloured peridot. The most favoured, loved and valued coloured is an intense green coloured peridot.
Peridot measures 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness. It may not be as hard as the diamond, but it is fairly robust and can be easily maintained. Peridot has great transparency. They are largely available without inclusions and impurities, though the larger stones may have some inclusions and impurities which make it appear cloudy. Cut and polished peridot have a vitreous lustre and are very attractive. Owing to the excellent transparency it possesses, peridot is widely faceted. For use in jewelleries like rings, bracelets, pendants, necklaces, engagement rings, eternity rings and bridal set ring peridot of different shapes like ovals, rounds, cushions, emerald are created. Cuts like the table, unconventional checkerboards and steps are however more popular.

Healing Properties of Peridot

Owing to the yellowish green colour, peridot is believed to cure diseases of the liver and help eliminate problems associated with digestion. Apart from helping in physical detoxification, it helps dissolve problems of the gall bladder, kidneys, lungs, gallbladder, heart, thymus, stomachs, intestinal tract and heals illness like constipation and ulcers. It aids in balancing bipolar disorders and in overcoming hypochondria. It is regarded as a powerful cleanser and releases toxins. It alleviates exhaustion, lethargy and stress.
Peridot is very beneficial in treating several psychological problems. It dispels resentment, bitterness, jealousy, hatred, irritation, guilt, greed, nervousness, etc. It helps one to attain confidence, motivate growth, form new relationships and be responsible. Peridot is known to help individuals attain emotional balance, inner peace and help understand ones destiny. Peridot is especially known to be a very beneficial gem to dispel anger, calm the nervous system and release the emotional tensions.
The healing attributes along with its unique beauty is enough to lure people into getting it mounted on jewelleries like rings, pendants, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, eternity rings, engagement rings and bridal set rings. They are primarily famous as a birthstone. They make an ideal August birthday gift.

The Collection of Peridot at AG & Sons

The world of fashion is in the process of rediscovering the stunning beauty of peridot. The beautiful green colour peridot when worn as rings, bracelets, pendants, necklaces, earring, engagement rings, eternity rings or bridal set ring will transform all the beneficial energies to you. A fascinating gem, it has a fascinating story to narrate through its colour and lustre. AG & Sons has an amazing collection of peridot jewelleries which are tastefully designed to enhance the beauty of the stone. We cater to customisation also so if you have a special design with peridot in mind, you can come to us.