Discover – and Share – the Mystery of a Carnelian Gemstone
If you yearn for jewellery that falls into the “I’ve never seen anything like that before!” category, you may want to invest in a piece featuring carnelian.
A semi-precious gemstone, carnelian (also referred to as cornelian or sard) comes in a variety of colours, from buttery tan to deep, dark brown. It’s opaque, rich and relatively abundant; perhaps that’s why carnelian has been used to decorate jewellery items for at least 6,000-7,000 years.
Carnelian - tumble polished
A Bit of History about Carnelian…
Carnelian is mined around the world in locales from Russia to Australia to Brazil. Like many gems, carnelian, a variety of chalcedony, was once relegated to the jewellery collections of the rich and famous. Today, though, it can be found in jewellery boxes of everyday people.
Carnelian’s toughness (6-7 on the Moh’s scale of hardness) makes it a stone that can be relied upon to keep its shape for generations. In fact, there are many royal jewellery items featuring carnelian that look stunning thousands of years after their creations.
Carnelian’s colours vary depending upon the levels of iron oxide in the stone. Occasionally, carnelians are heated to intensify their hues; some may also be specially colour-treated to further enhance their appearances. Once polished, the outside of a carnelian gem takes on an almost silky look and feel, which makes the gemstone highly attractive from both visual and tactile standpoints.
Carnelian - cabochon cut
Carnelian in Mythology and Legends…
Carnelian stands as one of the gemstones that can be used for many birthstones, most notably for those born under the Zodiac signs of Virgo, Aries, Leo and Taurus.
Throughout the centuries, many societies believed (and some still believe) in carnelian as a stone that could help the wearer (or holder in the case of loose carnelian stones) in a number of different ways, including:
- Healing blood-related diseases.
- Guarding against poverty and financial woes.
- Increasing physical desire in both males and females.
- Helping with back pain and body cramping.
- Improving a bad temper.
- Assisting women and men with infertility issues.
- Heightening overall energy.
- Protecting a dead body from evil spirits.
- Promoting a sense of humor.
Whether or not carnelian actually possesses any of these powers is debatable; however, regardless of its otherworldly or medicinal prowess, it’s undeniably a lovely stone to showcase.
Taking Care of Carnelian
Like other hard semi-precious gemstones, carnelian is not particularly difficult to care for. A soft cloth and gentle hand soap can bring lustre back to a dull carnelian cameo, brooch or other jewellery item.
One note: Be careful when cleaning carnelian because the other materials with which your jewellery piece is crafted may require professional cleaning or special cleansing solutions.
Are You a Candidate for Carnelian?
Is carnelian a gemstone of choice for you? It all depends. Carnelian is not a stone with tons of “splash”; it’s much more subtle in its appeal. Yet it conveys a sense of earthiness and warmth that other gemstones do not enjoy.
If you like nature and down-to-earth tones, carnelian is indeed a great match for your lifestyle and personality.
Sam Kritsotakis
