Thursday, October 4, 2012

Gemstones: Carnelian

Carnelian chips & beads (and a ceramic tile) :: All Pretty Things
Carnelian chips & beads (and a ceramic tile)
Carnelian is a variety of chalcedony: a glossy translucent reddish-orange gemstone. It might have a pure colour, or you can find it slightly banded.

It has been used for jewelry for many millenniums now: Egyptians, Romans and Greeks had carved jewelry and accessories from it over 3,500 years ago. Back then it was a gemstone for nobility, showing the owner's high class status. Today it is mined mostly in Brazil, Uruguay, and India. Sometimes it can be heat-treated to enhance its colours.

Probably due to its colour it was thought to calm the temper, and even give its wearer courage in battle. It is even said to give a sense of humour - now that's a stone after my soul!

With fall already here (and winter on its way) Carnelian seems the perfect stone to use for an autumn piece: its red-brown-orange shades are warming the spirit and its lustre is soft and delicate.

3 comments:

  1. LOVE this stone! one of my absolutely favorites with its warm colors

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    Replies
    1. It became one of my favourites too - exactly, those warm and rich colours are superb!

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  2. LOVE it! i never thought anything would ever replace garnet in my heart, but carnelian ever so silently bumped garnet out of first place.

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