October makes us think orange, not only for Halloween, but the breathtaking Destin sunsets and the beautiful autumn leaves. Orange is a power color and is said the stimulate enthusiasm and creativity. Lady Luck’s color is orange as well. Mother Nature did some of her best gemstone work with her paintbrush dipped in orange, thus is among the top selections for designer jewelry. Orange gemstones include sapphires, fire opal, coral, tourmaline, spessartite garnet, chalcedony, citrine, imperial topaz, carnelian, agate, andesine, sunstone and moonstone.
Among our very favorites are:
Mandarin Spessartite Garnet - - is a rare form of orange garnet often referred to as Mandarin Garnet for its vivid orange color. These gems actually occur in a range of colors from yellowish orange to reddish orange and orange-red. These gemstones have a remarkably high refraction of light, giving it an exceptional brilliance. Even in unfavorable lighting conditions small, well cut Mandarin garnets will sparkle brilliantly. The pure orange, known as mandarin or fanta orange, is very rare and has been found in only a few deposits in Africa, notably in Nigeria.
Erica Courtney Mandarin Garnet
Fire Opal - Fire opals are unique in the lush world of the opals. They were already admired as symbols of the most fervent love in ancient times. It is in Mexico that the most significant fire opal deposits in the world lie. Rock strata containing opals run through the Mexican highlands, with their many extinct volcanoes. The fiery, warm glow of the fire opal lures jewel enthusiasts the world over with radiant orange colors that simply cannot be overlooked! The fire opal, which, like the other opals, consists of silicic acid with a relatively high water content, was named for its color. The color itself comes from fine traces of iron oxide.
Pamela Froman 'Dancing Flame' 18K Earrings with Matrix Fire Opal Briolettes and Diamonds
Orange Sapphire – To the surprise of many, sapphires come in a rainbow of colors to include orange and is considered a “fancy” sapphire. Generally, the clearer and more vivid the color, the more valuable. Orang sapphire is a great choice for jewelry, because of its durability. Most orange sapphire comes from Sri Lanka, though some orange sapphire is from Thailand or Australia.
Erica Courtney Orange Sapphire and Pink Tourmaline Cha-Cha Earrings
Coral – Coral is actually the skeletal remains of marine polyps, growing like trees and branches in the warm waters of the ocean at depths of around 10 to 500 feet. Coral jewelry dates back thousands of years ago to around 3000B.C. Coral gemstones have long been thought to have many healing powers.
Gurhan 24 K Gold Coral Necklace
