The facts
What carnelian actually is
Carnelian is classified as chalcedony, with the composition SiO₂. It crystallises in the trigonal system.
Colour comes from iron oxide, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.530–1.540. Specific gravity around 2.58–2.64. Cleavage: none. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where carnelian comes from
Carnelian is produced at Gujarat, India, Brazil, Uruguay and Madagascar.
The locality is part of the description, not a footnote — two stones of the same weight from two of these places are not the same stone.
How carnelian is treated
Heating deepens the colour and is standard. Dyed agate is sold as carnelian.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What carnelian is confused with
In the trade carnelian is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Dyed agate, Sard or Fire opal.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.530–1.540 and specific gravity 2.58–2.64 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What carnelian is used for
Demand for carnelian comes from jewellery, prayer beads, carving and sculpture and architecture and interiors, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the set or by the block.
Durability and care
Hardness 6.5–7; cleavage none. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What carnelian costs
As a guide, carnelian trades around $0.50–10/ct.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is carnelian treated, and how?
Heating deepens the colour and is standard. Dyed agate is sold as carnelian.
Where does carnelian come from?
Gujarat, India, Brazil, Uruguay and Madagascar. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is carnelian hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 6.5–7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does carnelian cost?
Indicatively $0.50–10/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is carnelian confused with?
Most often Dyed agate, Sard and Fire opal. A refractive index of 1.530–1.540 and a specific gravity near 2.58–2.64 separate it quickly.
What is carnelian used for besides jewellery?
prayer beads, carving and sculpture and architecture and interiors. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for carnelian?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about carnelian