am Garnet, so called by the ancient Greeks because my color reminded them of the "granatum," or pomegranate seed. Noah used my inner fire as a lamp on his bow as he cast about on the ocean. I trace my roots as a gemstone to the Nile Delta in 3100 B.C., where Egyptian artisans would craft me into beads or inlay me into hand-wrought jewelry.

The versatile Garnet comes in a virtual rainbow of colors, from the deep red Bohemian Garnet to the vibrant greens of the Russian Demantoid and African Tsavorite. The oranges and browns of Spessartite and Hessonite hail from Namibia and Sri Lanka and the subtle pinks and purples of the rhododendron flower, are also yours to explore.

Garnet is the traditional birthstone for the month of January, however, red need not be your color of choice if you are born in this month. Rich orange and golden hues, striking greens, petal soft colors of violet and lavender, all await your selection.