January's birthstone is famous for being as red as a ruby, but this colorful gem actually comes in every color but blue.

The name garnet is believed to have come from the pomegranate, a fruit which features seeds of a deep red-purple color which resembles rhodolite garnet.

Garnets are found in jewelry from ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman eras.

Many courageous discoverers and travelers wore Garnets for protection. Garnets were considered popular talismans and protective stones, because it was believed in those days that Garnets illuminate the night and prevent their wearer from any sort of evil. In ancient times, garnets were exchanged between friends to symbolize their affection, and to ensure they meet again.