Perhaps in anticipation of the month containing the holiday of love represented by the color red, January’s birthstone is the wine-red colored gemstone, the garnet. Not to be confused with other red gemstones such as the ruby, red sapphires, red diamonds and red topaz, the garnet has its own distinct characteristics. The garnet possesses relatively excellent hardness and is more affordable than many other gemstones. Garnets have been around for thousands of years. It has been said that the Biblical figure Noah, used a lantern made from garnets in order to steer the ark through the dark waters. Garnets have been found in jewelry from ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman eras. The stones were worn as a form of protection, as they were believed to keep evil away and illuminate the night. Like many other birthstones and gemstones, it was believed that the garnet holds healing powers when held to the skin and can cure conditions such as arthritis, varicose veins, as well as pancreatic problems.