My Grandmother's Garnet Pendant
One of My Most Prized Possessions
I bought it for my grandmother on November 16, 2006 just before 7:00 pm. An oval cut Garnet pendant in Sterling Silver with an 18" chain.
I actually saw it online some time before that. I wasn't looking for Garnet jewelry, and I wasn't shopping for my Gram at the time. I used to look at SilverJewelryClub.com quite a bit just to see what they were offering. One day I saw the pendant. It wasn't my style of jewelry at all, nor was it my Grandmother's birthstone, or even her favorite color, but I was drawn to it. For some reason it made me think of her.
The Healing Powers of Red Garnets
Being my inquisitive self I started looking up information on Garnets and found that red Garnets are thought to have healing powers. Now, I don't normally take that kind of information to heart, but my Grandmother was just about my favorite person in the world and she was having one health problem after another. Doctors had given her 6 months to live. So at that point, what is there to lose.
It's said that red Garnets strengthen the heart, stimulate the production of red blood cells and hemoglobin, and improve blood circulation. They regulate blood pressure and cholesterol levels, lessen arrhythmia, and help with digestion. They've also been thought to help joints function properly in those with rheumatism and arthritis.
After reading that I knew I wanted to get the pendant I had seen.
The Pendant
The only trouble was, the website where I saw it only offered a few items at a time, and they were randomly selected from hundreds of different pieces of jewelry. To make it more difficult each piece was only on the site for 15 minutes at a time.
It was meant to be. I was lucky enough to see that Garnet pendant for sale again and as soon as I did I scooped it up. I held on to it for a month and it was one of the Christmas presents I gave her that year. When she opened it up I told her why I chose it, and that she had to wear it all of the time. She did. :)
To make a long story short, the doctors were all wrong. I like to believe it was the necklace that I gave her that helped her stay with us 3 extra years. She passed away one month after her 92nd birthday on April 28 2009. Now that Garnet necklace belongs to me. Each time I wear it I lift it up, give it a kiss and think of her.
Garnet Pendant with Diamonds in 14K White Gold
$499.00
1 dark red cushion cut garnet; 1.75 cts
20 brilliant cut round diamonds; 0.10 ctw.
This was Giant Squid Summer School Lens Making Challenge #2
