Carnelian - What is carnelian

Know your carnelian

Fiery and yet soothing as the evening sunset, Carnelian is a gemstone that has fascinated humankind for millennia.

Carnelian is the most popular and affordable of the chalcedony group of microcrystalline quartzes. Carnelian, also called cornelian, is mined all over the world. But the best quality of carnelian comes from India, Brazil, Egypt, and Uruguay. Pro Tip: Carnelian is often confused with Jasper. Some unscrupulous dealers also pass off dyed or heat-treated agate stones as carnelian. So, here’s how you can identify a natural carnelian. Hold the stone against the light. A genuine carnelian will always have a cloudy colour, while treated stones will always have stripes.

At The Jewellery Room, you can rest assured to find authentic carnelian stone jewellery.

Carnelian: Hues of sunset

The vivid colour of this opaque to translucent stone makes it hard to ignore it.

Like most chalcedony-quartz, carnelian is composed of silicon dioxide. But it is the presence of iron oxide that gives the stone its vibrant yellow-orange colour. It comes in myriad shades of orange — the common yellow-orange to ones with a reddish tinge and others with brown hues. Heating a carnelian gemstone enhances its colour. This method is often used by jewellers and gem dealers to enrich the stone’s bright colour.

Carnelian in Jewellery
Carnelian finds its use in jewellery since antiquity. Carnelian beads make beautiful bracelets and necklaces. Cabochon cut carnelian stones can be set as centrepieces in rings.
Visit thejewelleryroom.com to explore beaded Carnelian jewellery from the finest designers in Europe and the world.

Some facts about carnelian

With a hardness of 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale, Carnelian is the perfect stone for everyday wear. And ancient civilizations will vouch for this fact. Perhaps the first people to realise the value of this stone were the Ancient Egyptians. They hailed carnelian as the Stone of Fertility and of Courage.

Arabs associate carnelians with royalty. Prophet Muhammed is said to have possessed a carnelian seal ring. But we bet you didn't know that the finest carnelian gemstones from India were inlaid in the white marbles of the Taj Mahal. An apt use for the Talisman of Love in the Monument of Love!

Carnelian also symbolises good fortune. In 18th century Europe, French and English royal courtiers often wore carnelian-studded brooches to banquets, a symbolic way to convey good wishes to everyone.

So, log on to thejewelleryroom.com to pick designer carnelian jewellery and make this token of luck your very own.