9 Gorgeous Red Gemstones and What They Symbolize
Whether you believe they have special spiritual properties or not, the appeal of gemstones and crystals is undeniable—especially when they come in a fiery shade of red.
Chances are that you're already familiar with rubies, but there are many more bold red gemstones that should be on your radar, whether you're looking for a decorative stone to give you a mental boost or even a new piece of jewelry. Keep scrolling for the details on nine of our favorite stones and precisely what they symbolize.
Ruby
Without a doubt, rubies are the best-known and most beloved red gemstones of all, and for good reason. It's the birthstone for July, and in addition to being extra hardy, with a luscious blood-red color, they're known to symbolize love, passion, wealth and protection. It's no wonder, then, that it's been a staple in jewelry for millenia.
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Garnet
Garnet is a stone often confused with rubies, though it's not quite as hard and usually has warmer undertones in a less bold red. It serves as January's official birthstone and is named from the same root word as "pomegranate" due to the similarities in colors. The stone represents life and energy, and some believe it imbues the wearer with extra vitality.
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Also read about: 6 Pieces of Crystal Jewelry to Increase Your 2024 Manifestations
Agate
Agate is an unusual and beautiful stone consisting of banded layers of chalcedony, and though it may not read as a "red" gemstone at first, it often features gorgeous layers of rusty reddish-orange thanks to the inclusion of iron. It's said to be a grounding stone, promoting calm and focus, as well as the confidence to manifest dreams into reality. We, personally, feel soothed just looking at them.
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Cinnabar
Cinnabar is an unusually vibrant red gemstone often found near volcanoes and hot springs, with a color to match the heat that creates it. There's a good reason it's also known as "dragon's blood"! It's often associated with love, and it's said that the owner can shake away their doubt and become their most appealing self in their search for a partner.
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Spinel
Spinel is a versatile gemstone that comes in every color of the rainbow, but it might be best known in a fiery red hue. In fact, it's easily mistaken for ruby for looking almost identical, though they do have different chemical compositions and a slightly different sparkle. Its symbology is also different, representing grounding restoration and balance between the mind, body and soul and also helping to restore energy.
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Carnelian
Deep reddish-brown carnelian stones are beloved for their rich, warm color. Symbolically, they're believed to be stabilizing and protective, and the stone is often used in chakra healing, especially in relation to the sacral chakra.
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Also read about: A Beginner's Guide to the Seven Chakras
Rubellite
Tourmaline, October's birthstone, is another stone that comes in pretty much every hue of the rainbow, and when it's tinged with the right metals to become a gorgeous pink-red, it's called rubellite. Perhaps because of its lovey-dovey color, its associated with love, passion and happiness, and is often used in chakra healings related to the heart chakra.
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Rhodochrosite
Rhodochrosite is a beautiful stone created when sedimentary rocks are enriched by the minerals in magma during volcanic activity, creating incredible layers of reddish-pink, grey and white. This stone is also associated with love as well as empathy and is said to foster deeper connections with others and loving openmindedness.
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Red Jasper
Last, but certainly not least, red jasper is one of the most vibrant of the bunch, taking on a silky smooth surface when polished. Jasper comes in all kinds of colors, but is extra lively in red, and is said to symbolize awakening and vitality, both spiritually and emotionally.
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Love learning about gemstones? Click HERE to learn about the green gemstone you need in your life, based on your zodiac sign.