9 January Birthstone And Garnet Jewelry Pieces (2025)
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We’ve researched our favorite sustainable jewelry brands for the best garnet jewelry pieces — these are our top picks for their quality and timeless design.
Birthstones are beautiful gems for all to enjoy, with garnet being the essential choice for those born in January. According to the Gemological Institute of America, this bold birthstone forms through a combination of silicate minerals, with red being the most common color. This gem is believed to bring abundance, health, wealth, and happiness. (We’ll take a bit of each, please!)
What does garnet jewelry symbolize?
Garnet jewelry carries meaningful symbolism, derived from past history, traditions and personal perspectives. Garnet is known as a symbol of deep passion, love, and commitment due to its rich, red hue that’s named after pomegranate seeds and is synonymous with romance. It’s also believed to offer protection and security against negative energies, while radiating strength to help overcome challenging times. Wearing garnet can even help improve one’s physical and emotional wellbeing as this stone is known for its vitality and life force energy.
Garnet is the designated January birthstone as established by the Jewelers of America. While there are many historical, cultural, and mystical factors influencing why garnet is synonymous with January, most commonly the mineral is connected to the zodiac signs of Capricorn and Aquarius, with many believing its qualities aligns with these signs. This birthstone is also connected to the Middle Ages and many ancient cultures.
Offering a piece of garnet jewelry, like a unique garnet ring to a loved one born in January can strengthen your bond with the person and express dedication to your relationship. This gemstone is the perfect personalized gift that will stand the test of time. Whether you’re celebrating a loved one’s birthday or an anniversary, you can find sustainable garnet pieces that will continue to stay in style for years to come. Here are nine brands we love to consider. 💎🔴
Our criteria:
Our team has fallen in love with dozens of ethical and sustainable jewelry brands over the years. For this review, we pooled together our experience and researched the best brands making garnet jewelry on the market. We’ve also scoured thousands of customer reviews. We update this list regularly with emerging favorites that meet our criteria below.
- SUSTAINABLY SOURCED MATERIALS | Each of these sustainable jewelry brands prioritizes using recycled metals and responsibly sourced gemstones, including noting their traceability, provenance, and origins where available.
- QUALITY/DURABLE | We’ve tested and can confirm that each of these jewelry items is made with high-quality materials, can be worn daily, and will stand the test of time.
- AFFORDABLE | We’ve included brands on the list that are fairly priced at an accessible price point that reflects the true quality of the pieces.
In search of a different gemstone? We’ve got you covered with our guides on sustainable amethyst, emerald, and aquamarine jewelry. And if nothing here catches your eye, check out other ethical and sustainable jewelry options here! (Don’t forget our ethical engagement rings guide if you’re looking to tie the knot soon!)
Best Overall | Most Affordable | Most Unique
1. Aurate
Best For | Garnet studs
Sustainability & Ethics | Recycled precious metals, gives back to three charities, responsibly made & sourced worldwide
Price Range | $110 – $325
For a gift you can wear every day, we love Aurate’s birthstone stud earrings. Every semi-precious stone — including garnet — is encased in solid gold casting and you can choose from yellow, rose, or white recycled gold. (You can also buy a single earring for half the price of the set.) The earrings are handmade using responsibly sourced materials; in fact, Aurate is so confident you’ll love its pieces that the brand offers a lifetime warranty. We do love to see it.
Customer Review | “Love the simple straightforward design of these studs, made a beautiful gift for a loved one on a special day.” – Jessica M. (Read all reviews.)
2. Brilliant Earth
Best For | Garnet engagement jewelry & loose stones
Sustainability & Ethics | Recycled precious metals, conflict-free stones, certified CarbonFree, eco-friendly wood packaging
Price Range | $150 – $6,080+
Prefer to design jewelry of your own and just need the gemstone? Brilliant Earth has your back (they even work from premade pieces as well!). The brand carries a handful of stunning loose garnets ranging from deep red cushion stones to peach round stones. Or, if you’re preparing to pop the question, there are also garnet engagement rings (which come with free shipping, 30-day returns, and a lifetime warranty). Create, curate, or choose an heirloom piece here that will bring a smile to your recipient’s face every time they see it.
Customer Review | “Well made, quality earrings. They were as advertised. Arrived promptly and were well packed.” – Cam (Read all reviews.)
3. NICCOLETTI
Best For | Garnet bracelets & bangles
Sustainability & Ethics | Responsibly made in USA, carbon-neutral shipping
Price Range | $61 – $177
Based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, NICCOLETTI founder Nichole first pursued jewelry design while recovering from two brain surgeries. Now, this burgeoning Etsy shop has sold more than 17,000 orders in the last decade — including gorgeous garnet bangles and bracelets. They’re unlike pieces we’ve seen elsewhere, finished with hammered gold or raw garnet edges. You can even request custom engraving and complimentary gift packaging — and every order touts carbon-neutral shipping.
Customer Review | “Love love love these. Unique but still timeless, perfect size, high quality stones.” – LaJaunah C. (Read all reviews.)
4. GLDN
Best For | Garnet bracelets & bangles
Sustainability & Ethics | 90% recycled materials, donates 10% profits, 85% pieces are made to order, 100% of diamonds are conflict-free
Price Range | $42 – $420
Add a vibrant touch to your jewelry collection with GLDN’s handcrafted garnet pieces. Whether you prefer timeless gold or elegant silver settings, GLDN offers thoughtfully designed jewelry that combines meaning, craftsmanship, and personalization. From birthstone necklaces to stackable gemstone rings, each piece is intentionally created to tell your unique story. Beyond creating stunning pieces, GLDN donates 10% of profits to organizations that champion education, rights, community building, and the arts.
Customer Review | “This delicate, understated beauty was a gift to a bestie and she loves it so much. Will definitely buy GLDN again.” – Victoria C. (Read all reviews.)
5. Linjer
Best For | Affordable garnet necklaces
Sustainability & Ethics | Recycled precious metals & ethically sourced gemstones, carbon-offset shipping, recycled packaging
Price | $59 — $239
For an affordable and aesthetically pleasing piece of jewelry, Linjer’s Birthstone Necklace is a wonderful choice. The garnet acts as a bezel set pendant along an adjustable gold chain, and we love the dotted details around the stone. Linjer prioritizes sustainable materials including recycled gold and silver, gold vermeil, and ethically sourced gemstones from around the globe. All the quality, thoughtfulness, and durability — without the markups.
Customer Review | “Absolutely beautiful. I purchased this from my daughter who emigrated to NZ for her sister. A beautiful birthstone and just the right length gold chain. Thank you so much, she loves it. Its a really sentimental piece for her. Delivery was excellent and arrived in time for her birthday.” – CW (Read all reviews.)
6. Mejuri
Best For | Minimalist garnet pieces
Sustainability & Ethics | Recycled precious metals & responsibly sourced stones, responsibly made around the world, gives back via women’s empowerment fund
Price Range | $416 – $603
It’s no secret that we love Mejuri’s fine jewelry, and its minimalist pieces are some of our favorites. From beaded necklaces to stacker rings, everything is equal parts dainty and delicate. Unlike most jewelry that’s made with gold vermeil, Mejuri uses 14k solid gold for its garnet collection — so they’ll easily withstand the test of time. We highly recommend grabbing a garnet ring if you can — wear it in your birth month and in the fall/winter months when deep reds and purples are most in style.
Our Editor’s Review | “I found most of these pieces comfortable for all-day wear, even for sleep, such as the Dôme figure ring and Mini Heart Studs. Many designs are also sensitive-skin friendly, especially the gold pieces for new piercings!” – Emily McGowan, Editorial Director [Read the full review.]
7. Starling
Best For | Initial garnet jewelry
Sustainability & Ethics | Responsibly made in CA, fair living wages, certified recycled precious metals & ethically sourced stones
Price Range | $293 – $5,414
For the most thoughtful gift of all, check out Starling’s garnet collection, including a full line of initial jewelry necklaces. (You can even layer two or three initials together — one for every part of your name or every member of the family.) Starling commits to its sustainability initiatives by ethically producing pieces in Los Angeles using certified recycled gold. Made with love and made to last, these garnet pieces are gorgeous through and through.
Customer Review | “I bought the black diamond ring a few months back and was so pleased I had to have the red one (my favorite color.) This one is just as perfect and I am thrilled. The quality is genuinely fine. The sparkle makes me smile. I’d recommend these to anyone!” – Patricia C. (Read all reviews.)
8. Chan Luu
Best For | Garnet pendant jewelry
Sustainability & Ethics | Handmade by artisans in Vietnam, recycled & reusable packaging, fair pay & safe working environments
Price Range | $85 – $90
For standout yet elegant garnet jewelry, consider Chan Luu’s collection of garnet pendant pieces. Crafted by artisans in Vietnam in responsible factories, each hanging birthstone pendant comes in an earrings, bracelet, and necklace option — and is finished with gold plating. Not only are the products handmade, your jewelry will arrive wrapped in a handmade box made from recycled vintage fabrics. Consider it a gift that will keep on giving.
Customer Review | “The piece is lovely and easy to wear.” – Debra S. (Read all reviews.)
9. Gardens of the Sun
Best For | Mixed birthstone jewelry
Sustainability & Ethics | B Corp certified, responsibly sourced materials, fair wages, gives back
Price Range | $29 – $1,179
Gardens of the Sun is committed to sourcing and crafting the most ethical, traceable, and transparent jewelry possible. This is done not only through building and maintaining a sustainable supply chain, but by also ensuring their employees and suppliers are empowered to grow and spark change through giving back. (The company’s initiatives include planting trees and donating to various charities.) The result is stunning garnet pieces that are one-of-a-kind, with many made-to-order options. Know that each purchase that’s made supports the end-to-end process of shorter and sustainable supply chains that benefit all.
Customer Review | “I can’t believe these beautiful earrings shipped from Bali to Seattle in less than a week! The packaging was beautiful and well thought out. My earrings came with an info card about garnets, and they look so beautiful.” – Anya M. (Read all reviews.)
Featured image by Linjer
