Orange is an uncommon colour for gemstones which makes it that much more popular. And while the list of jewels with this colour isn’t massive, there are many beautiful pieces on it that are as unique as they are eye-catching.
Find out which gemstones are orange below, as well as the meaning, properties and special occasions of each gem.
Citrine
Citrine is a translucent type of quartz and gets its name from the French word for lemon. It’s a reasonably durable stone that holds up to general wear and tear fairly well. Citrine has great clarity and is often faceted to highlight its brilliance. Its bright colour symbolises contentment, happiness, and positivity.
Citrine Meaning & Properties
This precious stone is said to activate creativity, encourage self-expression, enhance concentration and promote motivation. It’s also believed to help the wearer shed negative traits like depression, fears, and phobias.
Citrine for Special Occasions
We associate birthdays in November with two stones – citrine and topaz. Citrine’s warm colour makes it a gift from the sun and it’s also traditionally associated with the 13th wedding anniversary.
Find out more about citrine gemstone
Orange Sapphire
When it comes to sapphires, orange colours are very rare (blue sapphires generally come to mind). This means that almost all the orange sapphires on the market get enhanced in some way to reach the desired richness of hue. These gemstones are incredibly durable, second only to diamonds. Because of their durability, sapphires are perfect for a range of different types of jewellery.
Orange Sapphire Meaning & Properties
Orange sapphires represent wisdom, so you can look forward to brain stimulation and an increase in your intuition when you wear them. They are also said to bestow clarity and increase levels of self-mastery. Orange sapphires are also associated with good fortune, protection, spiritual insight, and stability.
Orange Sapphire for Special Occasions
The sapphire is the September birthstone, so it makes the perfect gift for your Virgo and Libra loved ones. Blue sapphires are also the traditional 45th wedding anniversary gift, but the rules are there to be broken. The gift of a rare orange sapphire will not go unappreciated!
Imperial Topaz
While topaz itself is relatively common and quite affordable, imperial, or precious, topaz is rare and much more valuable. The word topaz comes to us from the Sanskrit word for fire. Because of its dazzling colouring, it’s compared to the colour of a sunset. This stone is exceptionally clear, has a vitreous lustre, and is almost always faceted. Sometimes, however, it’s cut into cabochons.
Imperial Topaz Meaning & Properties
Imperial topaz is believed to bring abundance and prosperity to the wearer. It’s also said to support creativity, generosity, manifestation, and visualisation. This makes it an attractive stone for artists and those in the arts.
Imperial Topaz for Special Occasions
Along with citrine, topaz is the birthstone for those born in the month of November. It’s also the given gemstone for the 23rd wedding anniversary.
Orange Diamond
Orange diamonds, also known as fire diamonds, are stunning and hugely desirable. We also call them pumpkins because of their colour. The world’s largest pumpkin diamond, the Fancy Vivid Orange, sold for a record $31.5 million, weighing in at 5.54 carats. Because of how rare and pricey these gems are, synthetic orange diamonds are the best option for most.
Orange Diamond Meaning & Properties
The orange diamond’s blaze of colour represents courage, energy, and enthusiasm. It makes a great gift for people who either need more of these qualities in their lives or already possess them!
Orange Diamond for Special Occasions
Diamonds are the April birthstone and are usually associated with love thanks to the gemstone’s connection with engagement and wedding rings. It is also the proper gift for anyone celebrating a 60th wedding anniversary, as it’s also known as the Diamond Anniversary.
Mexican Fire Opal
The rarest and most valuable of Mexican fire opals are those with vivid colours of red and orange with intense saturation. They vary from some translucence to total transparency and are typically faceted and cut into various shapes. Fire opals are also quite soft, so are not particularly suited for jewellery that you would wear on a daily basis.
Mexican Fire Opal Meaning & Properties
These stones bring abundance, creativity, luck, and passion to the wearer. They also enhance intuition and make it easier to decide on things because you’re more able to trust your instincts.
Mexican Fire Opal for Special Occasions
Although it’s not Mexican fire opal specifically, opal is the October birthstone and also the gemstone for the 14th wedding anniversary. Interestingly, the Mexican fire opal is the national gemstone for the country it’s named after.
Find out more about fire opals
Orange Zircon
Zircon is often confused with cubic zirconia because of the similarity in the stones’ names, but they couldn’t be more dissimilar! While cubic zirconia is an inexpensive diamond simulant, zircon is a natural gemstone that is as brilliant as it is rare. Orange zircon in particular is almost always faceted to emphasise its fiery brilliance.
Orange Zircon Meaning & Properties
Being naturally brown or orange, zircon symbolise the earth. It’s believed to have a healing energy, making it a wonderful choice for someone who needs grounding.
Orange Zircon for Special Occasions
Zircon is the birthstone for December babies. Although certain varieties are far rarer than diamonds are, these stones are usually much less expensive! This means that you can get an amazing gemstone for a very good price. While not associated with any anniversary in particular, its beauty and affordability make it a wonderful choice for any anniversary gift.
Oregon Sunstone
Named after the North American state where it is primarily found, this one-of-a-kind rare gemstone contains tiny amounts of copper impurities. When light glances off it, and if you’re holding it at the right angle, these inclusions make for tiny metallic flashes that give it a glittering appearance.
Oregon Sunstone Meaning & Properties
As an inspiration stone, the Oregon sunstone is said to bestow freedom, happiness, and independence on the wearer. Sunstones are believed to help alleviate stress, reduce fear, and invoke good luck.
Oregon Sunstone for Special Occasions:
This stone became the state gem for Oregon in 1987 and mythology states that it’s a good choice for people born on a Sunday. Because it is believed to call on our elemental good natures and bring our real selves out to play, it makes for a wonderful gift.
Orange Spinel
Orange spinel is also very rare and thus a favourite among collectors. Most of these gemstones are inclusion-free, but others may boast long, pointed, slender rutile inclusions. These give this gem its highly sought-after asterism or star-like effect. While this stone is not usually treated or enhanced, it’s possible to find synthetic versions on the market.
Orange Spinel Meaning & Properties
Orange spinels are believed to help you set your ego aside and devote yourself to another. Like most fiery gems, it’s said to encourage greater longevity, loyalty, and passion. Its association with the root chakra means it can increase physical energy too.
Orange Spinel for Special Occasions
Spinel is one of the two birthstones for August, the other being peridot. Choosing orange spinel is believed to protect your loved one from harm and soothe away feelings of sadness. It’s also the gemstone for the 22nd wedding anniversary.
Spessartite Garnet
Spessartite garnets are possibly the most famous of all the big and complicated family of garnet stones. They get their colour from traces of manganese and display a range of oranges, from fainter hues to deep shades with red overtones. Spessartite garnets that are eye-clean and large are the most sought-after of all.
Spessartite Garnet Meanings and Properties
Because of their strong, stimulating vibrations, spessartine garnets are said to be good for energetically boosting how you already feel. Their metaphysical properties include assisting creativity and manifestation, and they are also powerful stimulants for the brain. You can look forward to increased imagination, logic, and mental clarity when wearing them.
Spessartite Garnets for Special Occasions
Garnet is both the traditional and modern birthstone for January and is linked to the Aquarius astrology sign. It’s also the gemstone for the 2nd wedding anniversary. But you really can’t go wrong when it comes to giving this type of gemstone to someone you love!
Orange Tourmaline
Orange tourmaline makes for magnificent jewellery and is available in a range of different shades, from brownish undertones to more vivid, pure hues. Most exhibit pleochroism, which means that the gemstone displays two different colours depending on the angle you’re viewing it at. This gives the piece it forms part of a changeable quality that’s very desirable.
Orange Tourmaline Meaning & Properties
Orange tourmaline conveys the energy of action and is believed to help the wearer correct the use of their personal power in the physical realm. These energising stones are said to stimulate and encourage action, cleansing, along with purification.
Orange Tourmaline for Special Occasions
Tourmaline is one of the two gemstones linked to October, so will make the perfect present for your Libra and Scorpio friends. They’re also the gemstone for the 8th wedding anniversary.
What to Consider Before You Buy Orange Gemstones
If you love happy, bright colours, one of these orange stones on this list would be ideal for setting in a ring, bracelet, or pendant. And if you’re wondering what to set your orange stone in, the good news is that orange gems go well with most metals, including platinum, rose gold, silver, and white gold. They also highlight your gemstone’s colour, so the stone will be the focal point of whatever beautiful jewellery you’ve chosen.
Want to know about other coloured gemstones? Have a look at our list below: