January birthstone: garnet
The January birthstone is garnet, most often a deep red gem but found in almost every colour.
How to read it
Garnet has been the January birthstone since American jewellers adopted their modern list in 1912, and it still heads GIA's list for the month. It is not one mineral but a group of several, which is why the stones range so widely in colour.
Also searched as: birthstone for January, garnet birthstone, Jan birthstone.
What colour is the January birthstone?
Red is the colour most people expect, but GIA and the International Gem Society both list orange, yellow, purple and green garnets too, and GIA notes garnets that change from blue to purple in different light.
More birthstones
Sources
- January Birthstone: Garnet (GIA), Gemological Institute of America
- Birthstone Chart: Modern and Traditional Birthstones, International Gem Society
- The Curious Lore of Precious Stones, by George Frederick Kunz, 1913, J. B. Lippincott (Project Gutenberg edition)
Last reviewed September 27, 2026 by Rory Hansen. How we research