Garnet necklaces

The garnet necklace is a piece of jewelry with a subtle intensity. Its dark, deep red, sometimes so dense it verges on burgundy or black in certain lights, has a warm and enveloping presence around the neck. It's a different red from that of a ruby: less flamboyant, more earthy, more intimate. Garnet takes its name from the Latin granatum (pomegranate), and when you see a garnet bead necklace, the resemblance to the fruit's seeds is striking. Vikings sewed garnets onto their sails to navigate at sea, Crusaders wore it as a protective talisman, and Bohemian jewelers made it a specialty in the 18th century with the famous Bohemian garnet necklaces from Prague.

In lithotherapy, a garnet necklace worn around the neck creates a bridge between the heart chakra and the root chakra, the two centers on which this stone works best. Garnet is a stone of vital energy, passion, and regeneration. It rekindles life force when it wanes, warms the body and spirit, and restores the courage to move forward. It is recommended during periods of exhaustion, convalescence, or when the inner flame needs to be rekindled. Garnet pairs well with ruby (intensified passion), carnelian (creativity and joy), or amethyst (channeling fire energy). For maintenance, a rinse with clear water and recharging in the sun or on a quartz cluster are sufficient. With a hardness of 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale depending on the variety, it is a durable stone for everyday wear.