The Top 10 Orange Gemstones Every Jeweller Should Know
Orange gemstones radiate warmth, creativity, and energy, making them a bold yet versatile choice for jewellery design. Whether you're crafting statement rings, elegant pendants, or unique earrings, these fiery-hued stones can add a striking touch to your handmade jewellery.
From the widely available citrine to the rare and dazzling zircon, let’s explore ten beautiful orange gemstones 🧡
Citrine: The Affordable Favourite
Citrine is the go-to orange gemstone for jewellers. This quartz variety ranges from pale yellow-orange to deep amber, with heat-treated citrine displaying the richest hues. It’s widely available and highly affordable, making it a staple for jewellery makers.
In Jewellery Design:
Citrine’s scratch resistance (Mohs hardness of 7) makes it perfect for rings, earrings, and pendants. It pairs beautifully with both gold and silver settings, creating warm, sunny pieces that brighten any collection.
Pairs well with:
Amethyst – for a striking warm and cool contrast.
Peridot – for a fresh, citrus-inspired colour palette.
Fire Opal: The Fiery Flash
Unlike traditional opals, fire opal is often transparent or translucent, glowing in shades of orange, red, and yellow. While some fire opals display play-of-colour, many are prized solely for their vivid body tone.
(Rich orange fire opals with a nice play of colour are my personal favourite for orange gemstone jewellery)
In Jewellery Design:
With a Mohs hardness of 5.5–6.5, fire opal requires protective settings like bezels if you want to set it in a ring. It works beautifully as the center piece within statement jewellery where its fiery glow can really shine.
Pairs well with:
Black Spinel – for a dramatic contrast.
Yellow Sapphire – to enhance its warm, sunny tones.
Spessartine Garnet: The Vivid Spark
Also known as Mandarin Garnet, this brilliant orange gemstone is celebrated for its intense saturation and exceptional brilliance. Unlike many orange gems, spessartine garnet owes its colour to natural trace elements rather than treatment.
In Jewellery Design:
With a Mohs hardness of 6.5–7.5, it’s durable enough for rings and daily-wear jewellery. Its vibrant, fiery orange hue works well with both contemporary and vintage styles.
Pairs well with:
Blue Zircon – for a complementary contrast.
Pink Tourmaline – for a bold, vibrant combination.
Imperial Topaz: The Regal Glow
Imperial topaz is the most valuable variety of topaz, featuring golden-orange to reddish hues. Unlike blue topaz, which is extremely rare in nature so is nearly always treated, Imperial Topaz tends to be treatment free.
In Jewellery Design:
With a Mohs hardness of 8, it’s an excellent choice for any piece of jewellery, including those intended for everyday wear. It adds an elegant, vintage feel to jewellery, especially when set in yellow or rose gold.
Pairs well with:
Smoky Quartz – for an earthy, autumnal look.
Green Tourmaline – for a rich, regal contrast.
Orange Sapphire: The Fiery Luxury
Sapphires aren’t just blue! Orange sapphires are a stunning but lesser-known variety of corundum that are referred to as fancy sapphires (as are any colours of corundum except blue and red). These gems are incredibly durable and can range from soft peachy hues to intense tangerine shades.
In Jewellery Design:
With a Mohs hardness of 9, orange sapphires are perfect for engagement rings, fine jewellery, and heirloom pieces. Their brilliance and durability make them a luxurious alternative to more delicate stones.
Pairs well with:
Ruby – for a fiery, high-energy combination.
Aquamarine – for a cooling, oceanic contrast.
Carnelian: The Ancient Treasure
Carnelian has been used in jewellery for thousands of years, valued for its rich orange-red hues and smooth, polished surface. This variety of chalcedony often exhibits a soft, glowing translucency.
In Jewellery Design:
With a Mohs hardness of 6.5–7, carnelian is ideal for beaded jewellery, cabochon rings, and vintage-style pieces. Its deep, earthy orange tone works well with antique and bohemian designs.
Pairs well with:
Turquoise – for a bold, contrasting boho look.
Red Garnet – for a warm, deep-hued combination.
Amber: The Organic Gem
Unlike other gemstones, amber is fossilised tree resin rather than a mineral. Its golden-orange hues and natural inclusions make it a favourite for nature-inspired jewellery.
In Jewellery Design:
Amber is lightweight, making it ideal for large, statement earrings and necklaces. Its warm glow works beautifully in silver and organic-style jewellery.
Pairs well with:
Pearls – for a soft, elegant combination.
Lapis Lazuli – for a striking warm and cool contrast.
Sunstone: The Glittering Fire
Sunstone is a feldspar mineral known for its sparkling inclusions, which create a dazzling metallic shimmer called aventurescence. Its warm orange tones give it a fiery, sunlit appearance.
In Jewellery Design:
With a Mohs hardness of 6–6.5, sunstone works well in pendants, earrings, and rings (providing it has a protective setting). Its natural glittering effect adds a touch of magic to any jewellery piece.
Pairs well with:
Moonstone – for a celestial sun-and-moon theme.
Labradorite – for an iridescent, mystical combination.
Orange Tourmaline: The Rare Beauty
Tourmaline comes in a rainbow of colours, including stunning shades of orange. Orange tourmaline is rarer than its pink and green counterparts, making it a relatively unique choice for collectors and designers.
In Jewellery Design:
With a Mohs hardness of 7–7.5, orange tourmaline is durable for rings, pendants, and fine jewellery. Its warm, deep hues look particularly stunning in yellow gold settings.
Pairs well with:
Spinel – for a rich, vibrant combination.
Morganite – for a soft, romantic contrast.
Orange Zircon: The Brilliant Secret
Often mistaken for diamond due to its high brilliance and fire (it really does sparkle!), zircon is an underrated yet spectacular gemstone. Orange zircon is especially rare and displays deep, warming hues.
In Jewellery Design:
With a Mohs hardness of 6–7.5, zircon is best suited for earrings, pendants, and occasional-wear rings. Its natural brilliance makes it a show-stopping alternative to other orange gems.
Pairs well with:
White Sapphire – for a high-sparkle combination.
Tanzanite – for a vivid, contrasting pairing.
Orange gemstones offer a world of design possibilities, from the widely available citrine to the luxurious brilliance of orange zircon. Whether you’re crafting delicate everyday jewellery or bold statement pieces, these fiery gems can add warmth, vibrancy, and character to your designs.