Gorgeous Carnelian Polished Stones

Carnelian doesn't get much better than this.  These striking stones exhibit deep orange colour with contrasting white or reddish-brown bands.

They're wonderfully translucent, exhibit a vitreous lustre and have been beautifully polished.

The history of carnelian can be traced back thousands of years.  In the Islamic faith the Holy Prophet Muhammad is believed to have worn a carnelian stone in a signet ring.  Although commonly referred to as 'aqeeq' which can mean 'quartz' or 'agate', in religious texts it's widely referred to as an "Abyssinian stone".

Abyssinia is modern day Ethiopia so there's a great deal of confusion surrounding its exact identification.  Scholars generally believe it was carnelian.  The ring was worn to commemorate the removal of idols from the Grand Mosque in Mecca in 630 AD.

Carnelian is the birthstone for August.

These carnelian stones make striking display pieces and may also be used for their metaphysical healing properties. 

In the dropdown list these carnelian stones are numbered 1 to 10. In the first two photos number 1 is closest to the twelve o'clock position, the numbers then run clockwise ending with 7 which is the stone in the centre. 

The stones in photos 3 and 4 are 8, 9 and 10.  8 is the stone on the left.