What color is Carnelian?
Carnelian is a deep, warm red with a strong brick-like tone, hex #B31B1B, close to the color of a sun-dried chili pepper. The red leans slightly toward brown, giving it a muted, earthy quality rather than a bright or glossy appearance.
What is the meaning of the color Carnelian?
Named after the cornel cherry, a small red fruit, the word carnelian entered English use by the late 15th century as a name for the reddish-brown gemstone long traded across the ancient world. The stone was used in signet rings and amulets throughout ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, where it was prized for its deep red color. Cornell University adopted carnelian as one of its two official colors in 1866, pairing it with white in its earliest recorded use as an institutional color.
What colors go with Carnelian?
Colors that pair well with Carnelian include:
Ivory: soft, warming contrast
Navy Blue: cool, grounding balance
Forest Green: earthy, natural depth
Charcoal: dark, steady backdrop
Gold: rich, intensifying warmth
Similar Colors
Conversions & Codes
| Format | Value | CSS |
|---|---|---|
| HEX | #B31B1B |
color: #B31B1B;
|
| RGB | 179, 27, 27 |
color: rgb(179, 27, 27);
|
| RGB Percentage | 70%, 11%, 11% |
color: rgb(70%, 11%, 11%);
|
| CMYK | 0%, 85%, 85%, 30% | Not supported in CSS |
| HSL | 0°, 74%, 40% |
color: hsl(0, 74%, 40%);
|
| HSV | 0°, 85%, 70% | Not supported in CSS |
| CIE-LAB | 32, 30, 0 |
color: lab(32% 30 0);
|
| Decimal | 11737883 | Not supported in CSS |
Color Variations
Shades
Tints
Tones
Hues
Color Harmonies
Analogous
Complementary
Split Complementary
Triadic
Tetradic
Square
CSS & Dev Snippets
.carnelian {
color: #B31B1B;
}
$carnelian: #B31B1B;
rgb(179, 27, 27)