The Encyclopedia · Stones & materials
Carnelian
An orange to red-brown chalcedony, translucent and warm in colour.
Carnelian has been carved for seals and intaglios since antiquity. In the twentieth century it appeared in Art Deco jewels beside onyx and coral, and in the colourful gold jewelry of the 1960s and later.
What to look for
Carnelian has long been heated or dyed to deepen its colour, which is generally accepted. Check carved pieces for chips at the edges.
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