4mm Garnet Gemstone Round beads 15 Inch Loose Strand. Garnet: The word "Garnet" comes from the Latin word "granatus", meaning "grain"; thought to be a derivative of the term "punica granatum" (pomegranate) because the Garnet crystals embedded in rock had the color and shape of pomegranate seeds.. While Garnets are most associated with the color red, they occur in every color, from transparent to opaque, and include different varieties based on mineral composition. The six most common species of Garnet are Pyrope, Almadine, Spessartite, Grossular, Hessonite, Tsavorite, Uvarovite and Andradite. Garnets of deep red, violet-red and black come from Arizona in America, South America, Ceylon, India, and Australia. Green, dark green, cinnamon, brownish yellow, and jade green garnets come from Switzerland, Ceylon, and South Africa. Bright apple green Garnets (called Tsavorite) come from Russia and Finland. Typically the standard deep red-brown colors you see in stores are inexpensive and come from India, South America, Russia and North America. Garnets range from a 7.0 to 7.5 on the Moh’s scale of hardness and is the traditional birthstone for the month of January. It also symbolizes the 2nd and 6th wedding anniversary. Garnets are said to hold power for healing, strength, and protection and are often worn to relieve inflammations of the skin. It is also believed to regulate the heart and blood flow and aid in curing depression. In earlier times, Garnets were exchanged as gifts between friends to demonstrate their affection for each other and to insure that they would meet again.