"At the laste he thought to make the light,
For the Bridge to shine by nighte,
With Carbuncle Stones, to make men wonder,
With double reflection above and under,
Then new thought troubled his Minde,
Carbuncle Stones how he might finde.*

Historically, garnet cabochons have often been referred to as carbuncles. The quote above is from a wonderful book, "The Curious Lore of Precious Stones" by the famed gemologist, George Frederick Kunz (yes, Kunzite was named after him). The quote was reprinted from an earlier work of 1652.

All types of mystical properties have been attributed to every gemstone imaginable and garnets have been associated with everything from possessing healing properties, to preventing drowning, and even thought to glow in the dark. The partial poem above illustrates that myth.

Perhaps it derived from viewing them by firelight, where indeed even the darkest examples appear to glow from within.

Set in 14k gold, this ring makes the most of a minimalist design. A deep, garnet of 4.0 carats is bezel set into a rim with a halo of gold. A sensuous feeling, rounded shank creates a striking look.

*The poem was written by an alchemist and published in 1642 in Norton's "Ordinall". With thanks to George Frederick Kunz from his book, "The Curious Lore of Precious Stones".