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Carnelian

car·​ne·​lian | kär-ˈnēl-yən

noun

A translucent red or orange variety of chalcedony, sometimes banded in a red and orange design, similar to an agate

This glassy and translucent stone is a variety of Chalcedony, which is a mineral found in the Quartz family. It is a beautiful shade of orangish-red. Jewelers have classified carnelian as a semi-precious gemstone, and it has a very rich and old history. It is most commonly found in Indonesia, Brazil, the Siberian region of Russia, and Germany. Carnelian has been used in jewelry for millennia, with early carnelian jewelry pieces dating back to Early Neolithic Bulgaria. It is also a semi-precious gemstone that is theorized by some jewelers and Biblical scholars to be the red stone that John the Apostle saw in his vision of the heavenly city, which is found in the Book of Revelations in the Christian Bible. Today in modern times, carnelian jewelry is often worn as pendants, fashion rings, or as part of beaded bracelets. It looks great with both gold and silver metal necklaces and ring settings.

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