is something we hear often.
If your birthday is in January, you cannot use this excuse. The garnet family, in our humble opinion, is the most fascinating of all gemstones. The deep red (also known as a “Cape Ruby”) has many cousins and not all of them are yet famous.
The demantoid garnet is a bright green that sparkles more than a diamond. It is found only in Russia and Namibia. Staying with green, what about tsavorite? It’s intense green rivals the colour of emeralds.
If your tastes run more towards the purples and pinks, consider rhodolite, raspberry or the most recent find: grape garnets. For the more adventurous we can offer colour-changing or andradite garnets. And if you like orange, nothing beats the brilliance of a mandarin garnet.
If you would like to know more about garnets, give us a call or pop in and see these beauties for yourself.
My love affair with gemstones started a long time ago. The first ones I bought myself were garnets, set in a silver ring that, thirty years later, I still wear. Then I discovered topaz. The gentle blue and incredible luster caught my eye and claimed a piece of my heart.
Now, in 2020, at the start of November, of which topaz is the birthstone, it got me thinking. Why are we drawn to topaz? It is, after all, the bestselling semi-precious gemstone in our shop, irrespective if it is set in gold or silver.
We usually have them available in blue and with the ups and downs of this difficult year it is not surprising that many people seem to be instinctively drawn to this colours’ calming properties. It can be Sky blue which looks a lot like aquamarine, Swiss blue, a deeper, more intense shade or London blue, which has a tinge of grey but it always looks good.
Crystal experts say that topaz is a stone of love and good fortune that is able to alleviate doubt and uncertainty. Could this be why we have seen more topaz jewellery sold than any other gemstone? Even if it is, that is not the only reason you should consider topaz. It is a durable stone. Coming in at 8 on Moh’s scale of hardness, it will wear well for generations.
Topaz is also available in pink, yellow, green or brown and even silver. Whatever your preference, we are sure to have one that will strengthen your love affair with topaz.
If you would like to know more, contact us at info@primalux.co.za and we will gladly assist.
Celebrate the new year with the January birth stone, the garnet. A stone that symbolizes physical love and the relationship between loving partners, the garnet was popular among royalty. According to legend, the animals of Noah’s Ark can thank a large Garnet stone for providing the only light on their biblical journey and guiding them safely to land.
The garnet crystal meaning is rooted in ancient history and comes from the Latin word ‘granatum’, which means pomegranate. According to Greek mythology, a pomegranate is seen as a gift of love and is associated with eternity. To this day, garnet remains a gift of love and is traditionally given for the 19th wedding anniversary.
With a hardness of 6.5 to 7.5 on the MOHS scale, garnet is suitable for wearing every day. The rich red to dark red colour adds warmth and depth to any metal used for jewellery, be it yellow gold or sterling silver.
So for the fun of it, buy yourself a garnet and start a whole new year full of love and healing.
Author: Brandon Morrison