As Wedding Know How editors, we write about things that we love and we think you'll like too. We have affiliate partnerships and sponsorship and may generate some revenue from these at no cost to you.
Orange is a rare color in nature and there are few gemstones that are truly orange. Here we cover a list of the most popular orange gemstones used in jewelry, evaluating their appearance, durability and value.
Orange Diamond
Orange diamond by James Allen. Check this gemstone here.
Orange diamonds are extremely rare in nature and come with high price tags. Like all diamonds, these are also made of carbon but get their color from nitrogen impurities during formation. Pure orange diamonds are rare, as most have secondary hues of pink, yellow and brown. Orange diamonds are highly durable and are perfect stones for everyday-wear engagement and wedding rings.
Orange Sapphire
Orange sapphire by James Allen. Check this gemstone here.
Orange sapphires are durable and extremely rare, getting their color from vanadium in the corondum. On the market, these stones are typically treated to achieve the desired orange hue. Most orange sapphires have secondary hues of yellow and pink. Padparadscha sapphires, a prestigious and valuable variety known for their distinct salmon colored shades, is also considered a type of orange sapphire. These stones can be used in all types of jewelry.
Spessartite Garnet
Spessartite garnet by Holy Gems. See this stone here.
Ranging in color can range in hues – yellowish-orange, orange, orange-red and reddish brown. These stones get their orange color from the presence of manganese and the red hues from iron. This variety of garnet is rare and valuable, although large deposits discovered in parts of Africa in the early 1990s made the stone more available. Most spessartite garnets contain inclusions and high-quality, clear stones are rare and valuable.
Fire Opal
Fire opal by Selective Gemhouse LTD. See this stone here.
Fire opals are rare and highly-sought after gemstones. Fire opals range in color from yellow to orange to red. However, they don’t give off flashes of color like regular opal and get their value from their color. They’re also typically translucent to transparent in clarity. Fire opals are somewhat soft, ranking at only 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. As most fire opals come from Mexicao, they’re also known as Mexican opals.
Citrine
Citrine by Optima Gem. See this stone here.
Citrine is a variety of quartz, known for its yellow to dark orange hues. Most citrine is highly transparent, with few to no visible inclusions, and when faceted, exhibits high brilliance. With a hardness rating of 7, citrine suits most types of jewelry.
Imperial Topaz
Imperial topaz y Expert Gem Thailand. See this stone here.
A more valuable variety of topaz, imperial topaz is rare and prestigious. It’s valued for its color which ranges from light peach to dark orange, often compared to the sky during sunset. Imperial topaz, also called precious topaz, has a good hardness rating of 8, with few to no inclusions. It has high brilliance when faceted and is ideal for all types of jewelry.
Sunstone
Sunstone by the Gemstone Man LLC. See this stone here.
A rare gemstone is mainly found in Oregan, USA (hence the name Oregon sunstone), this gemstone has a unique feature – tiny copper impurities that give it its distinct glittering look. It’s valued for these inclusions, as the more there are, the more fiery and glowing it appears. However, sunstone is not very durable, ranking only 6 on the Mohs scale.
Carnelian
Carnelian by Gem Gogo. See this stone here.
A type of orange quartz, carnelian occurs in dark red to brown orange varieties, getting its color from the presence of iron. Carnelian is typically translucent and are cut into cabochons to accentuate the smooth, waxy look of the stone.
Amber
Amber gemstone by REH Gems. See this stone here.
Amber is an organic gemstone, made from fossilized tree resin. Unlike minerals, amber is warm to the touch, smells of pine and is extremely soft (2 Mohs). Some varieties of amber feature interesting plant and insect inclusions, which add to the value of the gemstone. Amber isn’t ideal for rings, due to its softness, but it’s a popular gemstone for most other types of jewelry.
Rhodochrosite
Rhodochrosite by Gracie Dot. See this stone here.
A manganese carbonate, rhodochrosite ranges in color from pink to orange. These stones are typically found in silver mines, with the most valuable varieties coming from Colorado. Rhodochrosite is typically opaque to translucent, and is commonly cut into cabachons or used in raw, organic shapes. This gemstone is particularly suited for bohemian and rustic style jewelry.
Orange Zircon
Orange zircon by Firdos Export. See this stone here.
Known as a diamond substitute, zircon is typically colorless. Orange zircon is highly brilliant and has excellent clarity. This variety is also known for its fire and color, as well as affordability, making orange zircon a good choice for jewelry. Zircon, a natural ancient mineral, shouldn’t be mistaken for cubic zirconia, which is a sythetic gemstone.
Orange Tourmaline
Orange tourmaline by Nava Gemstones. See this stone here.
Orange tourmaline is composed of boron silicate, and ranges in color from pale peaches to vivid yellows, with orange in between. Orange tourmaline is known for its excellent transparency, luster and durability, which make it suitable for most types of jewelry. It’s also easily available and affordable. Orange tourmaline can also display pleochroism, which means that the stone shows off two colors depending on the angle it’s viewed in.
Orange Aventurine
Orange aventurine by Sunyik Store. See this stone here.
Typically opaque with medium durability (6.5 to 7 Mohs) orange aventurine is an affordable gemstone of the quartz family. It ranges in color from yellows to earthy browns, and sometimes displays aventurescence, a unique glitter seen across its surface. Aventurine is very tough, due to its compact composition, with a waxy luster.
Orange Spinel
Orange spinel by Wahenoor Gems. See this stone here.
While spinel occurs in a range of colors, the orange version is one of the most popular. Orange spinel is quite rare, with most specimens coming from Tanzania or Burma. The gemstone is highly durable (8 Mohs), has excellent luster and brilliance when faceted.
Coral
Orange coral by Galanta Jewels. See this stone here.
Coral is an organic gemstone, made of coral polyps in the form of calcium carbonate. Like all organic gemstones, it’s very fragile and soft, ranking only 3 to 4 on the Mohs scale. Coral comes in a range of shapes and can be cut en cabochon or carved into intricate designs. The gemstone is known for its salmon colors and pale to vivid oranges.
Wrapping Up
The above isn’t a comprehensive list of orange gemstones, but it contains the most common commonly used orange gemstones in jewelry. These are among the most sought after and popular varieties. While orange gemstones are rare and sometimes expensive, they add a beautiful pop of color to any outfit and should be a part of any jewelry collection.
