Carnelian is a fine, orange-red stone, highly prized in jewelry for its energizing brilliance. Main deposits : Brazil, India, Australia, Madagascar and Uruguay. Perfect for adding a touch of pizzazz to your creations, it stands out for its warmth, unlike Sardoine, which is browner.
Carnelian is a fine stone much appreciated in jewelry thanks to its cheerful, energizing orange-red color. It adds pep to a bracelet, necklace or earrings.
Make your own gemstone jewelry with our carnelian jewelry components.
Carnelian is a fine stone (formerly known as a "semi-precious stone"). It takes its name from the Latin "cornus mas", the fruit of the blood dogwood tree.
Carnelian has been used for thousands of years to create jewelry, decorations, seals and engravings. The first uses of carnelian date back to 2700 BC.
In ancient Egypt, this gemstone had a special place. Because of its color, the Egyptians called it the "setting sun". In mythology, the goddess Isis used carnelian to accompany the dead on their journey to the afterlife. Like emerald, lapis lazuli and turquoise, this natural stone adorned the sacred headdresses of the pharaohs.
It was also a sign of high social rank.
In ancient Rome, it was used to make seals (because wax doesn't stick to its surface) and jewelry such as signet rings, engraved rings and amulets to attract protection and good luck. To enhance its color, the Romans used gold or silver leaf.
In China, it was mixed with iron oxide. This preparation was used to enamel fine porcelain.
In the Middle Ages, carnelian was said to bring courage and warrior spirit to those who wore it on the battlefield.
Its color ranges from orange, vermilion red, yellow-orange, orange-red and red-brown. The intensity and variations of its color depend on the concentration of iron oxide.
It is sometimes confused with sardony, which is more brownish in color.
To enhance its color, professional stoneworkers use heat treatment.
Carnelian belongs to the Chalcedony family. It has a hardness of between 6 and 6.5 on the Mohs scale and a density of 2.6.
It forms in the cavities of volcanic rocks.
The main deposits of this fine, orange-red stone are found in Brazil, India, Australia, Madagascar and Uruguay.
Carnelian has many lithotherapy benefits. This gemstone is protective and energizing, a symbol of vitality and dynamism. Its cheerful color is said to evoke courage, positive character and strength, while dispelling dark ideas and negative thoughts.
When placed in the solar plexus chakra, it calms anger and jealousy. It improves concentration and capacity for work, especially in distracted or dreamy people.
Linked to the sacral chakra (or lumbar chakra), it boosts creativity, vitality, self-confidence and spontaneity.
It is ideally suited to meditation with stones.
Please note: our gemstones are not sold for lithotherapy. Natural stones are no substitute for medical expertise or treatment.
To dispel the negative energies this natural stone has accumulated over time, it needs to be purified and recharged.
There are several techniques for cleansing and purifying carnelian:
To recharge it, place it under sunlight or moonlight for a few hours. To reinforce this method, place carnelian on a pile of quartz or amethyst.
The brilliance and cool color of925 sterling silver andstainless steel give it an irresistible contrast, emphasizing its warm color. But there's nothing to stop you from matching it with a gold-plated or gold-filled jewel finish. The result will be just as charming, highlighting its orange hues.
Which stone to wear with carnelian? Pair it with citrine, garnet, red jasper, amber, sunstone, tiger's eye or calcite. These warm, energizing stones are a perfect match.
Which stone not to wear with carnelian? Lithotherapists advise against wearing a carnelian stone with cold stones such as aquamarine, amazonite or moonstone, at the risk of losing all their benefits.
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