Our Product Story
Garnet is January's birthstone. A hard, durable, often very brilliant stone, it's available in many colors other than the classic deep red, including green, yellow, orange, pink and violet. Garnet occurs in certain shades of red that have been taken for some varieties of ruby. In yellow, it has been confused with precious topaz. In fact, garnets can be found in almost every color and shade except blue.
Briolettes, the multi-faceted pear or teardrop shaped stones that are currently enjoying a renaissance in popularity have a history that stretches back 800 years. It arrived in Europe from India in the 17th century, where it became the jewel of choice of the upper classes and was adopted by Louis IV, Catherine the Great and Marie Antoinette. Briolettes faded in popularity during the Industrial Revolution, re-surfaced again in the Victorian age, then all but disappeared during the Depression and advent of modern manufacturing methods. Now, when many old-fashioned styles are once again finding favor, the briolette is the jeweler's darling.
One reason for the briolette's appeal is that, unencumbered by any setting except at the top, they catch the light beautifully. Because of its freeform nature, briolettes require more than average skill from the stonecutter.
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