January’s Birthstone: A Spotlight on Garnet Watches and Accessories

As we kick off January with New Year’s Day, the first month of the year signifies a time for growth, rebirth, and rejuvenation. Coming off a busy holiday season, January allows us to center ourselves and focus on our goals for the upcoming year. What do we want to accomplish in the next 365 days? How can we leave the world around us better than we found it? What do we hope to celebrate in the twelve months ahead?

Couple this newfound motivation and clarity with cold weather and cozy winter nights, and you have the atmosphere of January. In addition to New Year’s Day, January gives us an opportunity to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day as well as various awareness months such as National Blood Donor Month, Mental Wellness Awareness Month, and National Braille Literacy Month.

This clean and crisp start to the year is also associated with the zodiac signs Capricorn and Aquarius, carnation flowers, and the birthstone garnet. If you were born in the month of January or have someone special in your life with a January birthday, looking for a watch or accessory that incorporates this beautiful stone is a special way to recognize all that they bring to the table and celebrate the refreshing spirit of the new year.

While most people think of garnets in a deep red color, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) notes that garnets are actually a group of closely related gemstones that are available in a wide variety of colors. You can find garnets in dark red, dark purple, orange, green, and sometimes even pink or blue.

Red garnets are the most abundant sub-type of the stone, and they can be found around the world in metamorphic rocks. While these garnets are highly recognizable, they are not always very valuable. Why? Well, the monetary value and prestige of gemstones often boils down to their rarity. Red garnets are relatively common, so they are not particularly coveted by gem collectors and jewelry enthusiasts.

Other colors of garnets, however, are much more valuable and prized for their hardy compositions. For instance, a light green sub-type of garnet known as “Tsavorite” has become a staple of the jewelry and watch world due to its resilience, striking coloration, and rarity. In fact, it may even be replacing the emerald as the go-to green gem…

You may not have heard the word “Tsavorite” before… but trust us, this won’t be the last time you hear about this exceptional gem. Tsavorite is making major waves in the jewelry industry, and it’s well-deserved. Renowned for its vivid colors and natural clarity, this gemstone was discovered in East Africa in the 1960s. Its major deposits are in Kenya and Tanzania, specifically in the East African Rift System, which is home to many valuable gemstones.

Okay, so Tsavorite is beautiful – we can all see that clearly! But there are plenty of other gems in the world besides the so-called “big four” (diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. You might be wondering, why is Tsavorite so noteworthy?

There are a few factors that have contributed to the meteoric rise of this gorgeous green garnet. First off, Tsavorite is typically formed in small crystals, making large cuts of Tsavorite incredibly rare and valuable. But perhaps more importantly, Tsavorite has an incredible natural clarity that is rare in the world of precious gems. While many stones are treated to enhance color and clarity, the intrinsic qualities of Tsavorite render this unnecessary. In other words, Tsavorite is an ideal selection for those who value true natural beauty without the need for human intervention.

The stone occurs in many different shades of green, ranging from a deep forest green to light, grassy hues reminiscent of springtime. Plus, it is ranked highly on the Mohs scale, a system invented to compare the relative hardness of stones. Diamonds are rated 10 on the Mohs scale, meaning that they are the hardest stone available. For reference, rubies and sapphires are rated at a 9, the next hardest level after diamonds. Tsavorite comes in somewhere between 7.5 and 8, around the same as emeralds.

Emeralds have long been the predominant green stone in the world of jewelry and precious gems. So why pay any attention to a green newcomer when we already have a gorgeous green stone in our repertoire? Emerald, the birthstone associated with the month of May, is certainly a beautiful gem – but it is also prone to many inclusions, making it difficult to find pieces with strong clarity. This means that finding flawless cuts of emerald is virtually impossible, and even near-flawless pieces are prohibitively expensive for the average consumer.

Tsavorite offers a number of advantages over emeralds. While they are ranked around the same on the Mohs hardness scale, Tsavorite’s natural clarity imbues these stones with a brilliance that you simply will not see in an included emerald. The inclusions in emeralds also come with another drawback: They make the stones more brittle and prone to breakage. For that reason, wearing emeralds in a high-touch area is not a practical decision. For example, when you wear an emerald ring, bracelet, or watch, you run the risk of damaging or losing stones. Tsavorite is much more resilient and less likely to become damaged.

While Tsavorite might be a lesser-known stone, that reputation is already on its way to changing. Luxury brands like Avi & Co. have incorporated Tsavorite into striking timepieces and other accessories, and its debut on the market has been incredibly splashy. In fact, Avi & Co.’s green Tsavorite watch was snatched up virtually the moment it hit the shelves! Floyd Mayweather, the famed American boxer, bought the entire Hue Collection, totaling $1 million worth of limited edition timepieces.

See that watch on the left? That is the green Tsavorite watch, one of the four members of Avi & Co.’s celebrated Hue Collection.

When we set out to create a colorful line of iced-out, limited edition watches, we knew that we wanted to incorporate Tsavorite to represent the color green. Our green Tsavorite watch is set with a whopping 945 stones – and wearing nearly 1,000 emeralds on a high-traffic area like your wrist is simply a recipe for disaster. By choosing to craft the watch with Tsavorite, we were able to give our customers a truly unique timepiece that would be durable as well as aesthetically attractive and could genuinely last a lifetime.

This Tsavorite watch is perfect for anyone with a January birthday, as it celebrates the month’s unique and versatile birthstone to the maximum. The watch offers an eye-catching 44 mm case crafted from 18K white gold. The bezel, face, and bracelet are all completely covered in vibrant, green garnets. With an automatic Swiss movement and precision craftsmanship at every stage, this watch is one that you will treasure for years to come.

At Avi & Co., we specialize in the world’s finest luxury watch brands, including Richard Mille, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Rolex. We also have our own exclusive line of fine diamond jewelry – and you’ll be blown away by our selection of big and bold pieces made to turn heads whenever you walk into a room. If you’re shopping for timepieces or jewelry that highlight a specific birthstone, our team of experienced and knowledgeable customer service specialists is here to help.

For example, diamonds are the birthstone for the month of April. If you’re shopping for that special someone, explore our breathtaking collection of rings, bracelets, necklaces, and more – plus, don’t miss our diamond-studded watches from our own Iced Collection as well as other notable brands. When it comes to jewelry, we love this 6-carat solitaire pendant to celebrate an April birthday in style:

In September, we celebrate the Virgos and Libras among us with the radiant sapphire. While blue is the most recognizable sapphire, the stone is also available in colors like pink, purple, and even yellow. Our Hue Collection of gem-studded watches includes two sapphires models, one blue and one pink.

No matter whose birthday you’re celebrating, Avi & Co. has a rich collection of watches and jewelry in many popular birthstones. With our three boutique locations – you can find us in Manhattan, Miami, and Aspen – we make it easy to discover the allure of luxury at your very own fingertips. Stop by and visit us today, or make an appointment to get the most personalized experience working with our dedicated team. We can’t wait to meet you!