Many prefer clear gemstones, like diamonds, cubic zirconia, and moissanite. However, other colors do get the attention of people who like to wear bold and bright colors on their rings, earrings, and pendants. Emeralds, sapphires, and rubies continue to be popular gems because of their eye-catching colors.
If you’re looking for an unexpected color for your jewelry, consider orange gemstones. While they are somewhat rare, they are beautiful.
The color orange is associated with creativity and vitality. Artists and people in leadership positions often wear orange when they are creating and leading. Orange is a warm color that emits joy, enthusiasm, and warmth. You might find that you feel more open to ideas and more determined to finish projects when wearing vibrant orange gemstones.
With the right metal and a lovely setting, orange gemstones are a wonderful addition to your jewelry collection.
The Top 13 Orange Gemstones
Orange gemstones come in several shades of orange and with various price points. These are the top 13 orange gemstones found at jewelry stores today.
Citrine
This gem is relatively easy to find, making it an affordable option. The beauty of citrine comes in its transparency, making it especially lovely in rings. It has an eye-catching brilliance, though not to the extent of diamonds. It is durable, with plenty of clarity.
Crystal healers often use citrine as a tool. The warmth of the orange color helps people find positivity and contentment in their lives.
Imperial Topaz
Topaz comes in several colors, from blue and brown to pink and orange. The orange color is rare, and the word topaz translates to fire in Sanskrit. The imperial topaz is one of the most expensive colors and is considered a precious topaz. Many compare it to the colors of the sunset as it ranges from pale orange to bold orange.
Mexican Fire Opal
The Mexican Fire Opal is another rare orange gem. Unfortunately, it is not durable, so it is easily damaged when worn in rings. It does not have the same luster as garnets, diamonds, and sapphires, but many like the waxy finish. Fire opals are usually translucent, which differs from typical opals.
Depending on the luster, fire opals can be faceted or cut into cabochons. They are soft, so they need to be set in protective settings.
Orange Amber
This ancient material is fossilized tree resin, so it is not as durable as other stones. It often smells like pine and comes in yellow and shades of golden orange. You might find amber with inclusions like insects and plants. It is a soft stone, so it needs a protective setting.
The most expensive amber has plant matter and insects stuck in the resin. Orange amber is one of a few organic gemstones on the market today.
Orange Aventurine
Orange aventurine is a quartz crystal with some durability. It is usually opaque, so it is better suited to jewelry pieces like pendants. It has some flaky imperfections that give it a glittery look called aventurescence. It usually is worn as a cabochon. Still, jewelers can add facets without any problems.
Orange Diamonds
Diamonds come in several colors, and many colors are rare. Orange diamonds have nitrogen, and many tend to have brown, pink, or yellow tones. Pure orange diamonds are often out of most people’s price ranges. They are also known as “pumpkins,” after a famous orange diamond called the Pumpkin Diamond.
Rather than spending a small fortune on a natural orange diamond, consider buying a synthetic one at a lower price. Orange diamonds can cost anywhere from $1 million to $4 million, as they are rare. Orange diamonds with other colors are not as valuable.
The nitrogen in orange diamonds substitutes for carbon in the diamond lattice. Only 13% of stones have nitrogen, which is why colored diamonds are so rare. However, the rare diamonds in yellow and orange tend to be between one and two carats in size.
Orange Sapphires
Like orange diamonds, orange sapphires are also incredibly rare. They also tend to have pink or yellow tones, so pure orange sapphires are nearly impossible to find. The easiest way to acquire an orange sapphire is to buy a synthetic one. After diamonds, sapphires are the second-hardest stone, making them good choices for daily wear.
Jewelers often enhance the orange tone by dying it, so it becomes vividly orange. If you are shopping for orange sapphires, ask about the treatment done to them.
Padparadscha, a salmon-colored sapphire, is also considered orange. It is a rare and desirable gem.
Orange Spinel
Like other orange stones, orange spinel is rare. Some have an asterism, giving them a starburst look. Their saturated colors also make them highly desirable - if you can find one. Most have subtle inclusions, but they add to the desirability. They have good brilliance, and most come in vivid orange color.
You can find synthetic options on the market, and they are good choices for their affordability and durability.
Orange Tourmaline
Tourmaline comes in several colors, but orange is not one of the most popular. These often have a brown tone as well, which some find less desirable. The beauty of tourmalines is that they often show two colors. When it comes to orange tourmaline, the second color is brown.
They have a lovely luster and brilliance, and they are also durable and affordable. Jewelers sell orange tourmaline with several facets to enhance its clarity and brilliance. In its natural form, orange tourmaline does not have the same sparkle as it has when faceted. Jewelers also often give this stone a heat treatment to increase the vividness of the orange color.
Orange Carnelian
This beautiful stone is usually red but can be orange in some situations. Jewelers often use carnelian as beads or in a natural cabochon. They are affordable. The ancient stone turns orange because of iron oxide in the silica chalcedony.
Orange Zircon
Despite the name, an orange zircon is not a cubic zirconia. It is a rare gemstone with a brilliance that rivals diamonds, especially when cut with thoughtful facets. It is a durable gemstone, but not to the level of diamonds, sapphires, or citrine. It does scratch, and since the stone is brittle, it can chip.
To protect the gem from damage, jewelers give it several facets. The facets give it a brilliance that rivals that of diamonds. It is more affordable than orange diamonds and orange sapphires, making it a good choice for people who want a transparent, brilliant, and lustrous stone.
Oregon Sunstone
This stone is not as well known as the others on this list. It is a stone that has copper impurities creating metallic flashes. Under bright light, the copper adds a glittering appearance that looks like it has fire in it. This stone is not very durable, so it needs to be in a protective setting. That way, it won't scratch or chip when worn as a ring.
Spessartite Garnet
Most garnets are red, so this beautiful orange stone is an unexpected color. It is durable, making it a good choice for rings and other jewelry. Jewelers can add facets, and they can shape them into cabochons. Manganese in the structure turns it orange, from faint orange to a reddish-orange. It is one of the most famous orange gems.
While this gem is rare, miners find it in large deposits. Despite many people not being familiar with the name, they are familiar with the beautiful color of rings and pendants.
Other Orange Gemstones
Other orange gemstones make beautiful beads and cabochons for pendants and earrings.
- Orange sphalerite is a translucent orange gem with a brilliant luster. It is very soft, so it cannot be used in many jewelry designs.
- Orange fluorite also isn’t very durable, but its vivid orange makes it a good choice for people who appreciate having crystals and rocks in their raw forms.
- Orange agate is a banded stone that ranges from translucent to opaque. This stone makes beautiful cameos and carvings because of the orange bands.
- Coral is highly regulated, so people stop taking it from the sea. However, the coral that is tradable in the jewelry market can be made into jewelry. It looks lovely in its natural form.
Things to Consider When Shopping for Orange Gemstones
There are several factors to consider when choosing to buy orange gemstones.
Color Symbolism
The color orange immediately elicits emotions because of its connection to warmth and the sun. Orange is a combination of red and yellow, which are warm colors that involve energy, brightness, and positivity.
The symbolism of orange makes it an attractive choice for people looking for a joyous, happy feel.
You might also wear orange gemstones as a way of welcoming positive experiences into your life.
Pairing Metals with Orange Gems
If you do enjoy wearing jewelry, you’ll want to consider the metals paired with it.
White metals like titanium, platinum, silver, or white gold look beautiful with orange. These metals make the orange look modern and stylish. The orange gem becomes the focal point as the white metal fades into the background.
Yellow gold adds warmth to orange gems, while white metal provides an unexpected contrast. Yellow gold warms the orange stone, while rose gold gives the piece of jewelry a vintage style.
Warm Skin Tones
Orange gemstones look lovely against all skin tones. However, if you have warm skin tones, orange enhances it.
Where to Buy Orange Gemstones
Orange gemstones aren’t as popular as diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires, so they aren’t as easy to find. You’ll have to do some research to find the best place near you for orange gemstones. If you have a reputable crystal shop in your area, you should be able to find some cabochons and natural stones. These are best for pendants or home accents.
Before buying an orange diamond, orange sapphire, or orange spinel, ask for a certificate of authenticity. Since precious gems in shades of orange are rare in nature, most jewelers don’t have them in their stores. If you think you are getting a good deal for a precious orange gem, be extra mindful of scams.
Some jewelers will have orange gems that aren’t naturally orange. They might have had a different original color, which the jeweler treated to give it an orange hue. Ask the seller what treatments the stone has before you buy it. If you're shopping online, make sure the retailer sells genuine stones.
Orange gemstones provide a one-of-a-kind look that is sure to brighten any piece of jewelry. They aren’t only a fashion statement; they’re also a means of radiating positivity. If you’re looking for a stone to exude happiness and joy, they are a perfect choice.
