Carnelian Oval Necklace

Orange is not a neutral. That's the point.

One smooth carnelian on a fine chain, and every grey jumper you own suddenly has a job.

What this necklace is

The Carnelian Oval Necklace from House Of 18th Jewellery is a smooth 4x6mm oval carnelian cabochon in a full bezel setting, hanging from a small bail on a fine cable chain. The pendant and chain are 925 sterling silver plated in 18ct gold. The chain measures 40cm with a 5cm extender and closes with a spring ring clasp. The pendant and chain are sold together as one necklace.

What is carnelian?

Carnelian is an orange-to-red variety of chalcedony, a microcrystalline form of quartz, and it rates 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. Iron oxide inside the stone causes the orange colour. Carnelian is commonly heat-treated in the trade to deepen or even out its colour, and House Of 18th Jewellery does not hold a treatment certificate for this stone, so assume standard trade heat treatment rather than an untreated guarantee.

Why a smooth stone instead of a faceted one

Facets are cut to make a transparent stone sparkle. Carnelian is translucent, so facets would only break up the colour into small flat patches. A smooth domed cabochon lets light pass into the stone and glow back out through the whole surface, which is where carnelian's colour looks deepest. House Of 18th Jewellery cut the faceted charms in this drop for sparkle and kept the carnelian smooth for colour.

How the 40+5cm length wears

At 40cm the necklace sits at the base of the neck, just above the collarbone, where the carnelian shows above almost any neckline. At the full 45cm it drops onto the collarbone and sits over a crew neck or shirt collar. The extender also lets the necklace layer with a second chain at a different length without the two tangling.

How to care for carnelian and gold plating

Carnelian is hard enough for daily wear but can chip if it takes a sharp knock against a hard edge. Take the necklace off before showering, swimming, sleeping or putting on perfume, because water, chemicals and friction wear down 18ct gold plating. Never use an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. Wipe the stone and chain with a soft dry cloth, fasten the clasp before putting the necklace away, and store it on its own in a closed pouch so the fine chain doesn't tangle.

Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is carnelian? Carnelian is an orange variety of chalcedony, a microcrystalline quartz, coloured by iron oxide inside the stone.

Is the carnelian treated? Carnelian is commonly heat-treated to deepen its colour, and House Of 18th Jewellery does not hold a treatment certificate for this stone, so assume standard trade heat treatment.

What does 18ct gold-plated mean? 18ct gold-plated means a layer of 18-carat gold (75% pure gold) is bonded over 925 sterling silver. "18ct" describes the purity of the gold plating, not the carat weight of the stone.

Is carnelian durable enough for daily wear? Carnelian rates 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, so the stone handles daily wear well as a pendant, though a hard knock can chip it.

How long is the chain and can it be adjusted? The chain is 40cm with a 5cm extender, so the necklace can be worn anywhere between 40cm at the base of the neck and 45cm on the collarbone.