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Carnelian is a translucent reddish brown variety of chalcedony. It is sometimes known as cornelian.

The terms carnelian and sard are often used interchangeably, but they can also be used to describe distinctive subvarieties. The main differences are in colour – it is lighter with shades ranging from orange to reddish brown while sard is darker with shades ranging from a deep reddish brown to almost black. Sard is harder and tougher, however all these properties vary across a wide spectrum and the boundary between carnelian and sard is inevitably blurred.

This gemstone was widely used during Roman times to make signet or seal rings for imprinting a seal with wax on correspondence, prized because hot wax does not stick to it.

The word carnelian is derived from the Latin ‘carnis’ meaning flesh in reference to its colour. It was thought to still the blood and calm tempers. Its red shades are due to iron oxide, and can be uniformly coloured or faintly banded.

The best examples come from India where it is placed in the sun to turn any brown hints red. Most found today is stained chalcedony from Brazil and Uruguay.

It should be assumed that the stones we supply have been heat treated unless we specify otherwise.