Citrine
Quick answer
Citrine is a yellow to orange variety of quartz. Natural citrine is rare, so most citrine on the market is amethyst that has been heat treated to turn yellow or orange. It rates 7 on the Mohs scale and is durable enough for everyday rings, earrings and pendants.
What citrine is
Citrine is yellow to orange quartz. The colour comes from iron and exposure to heat, either underground (rare natural citrine) or in a lab (most commercial citrine, made by heating amethyst). The treatment is stable and accepted, and both natural and treated citrine count as citrine in the trade.
Colour and look
Pale lemon yellow to deep amber orange. Heat-treated citrine tends to be more saturated and orange. Natural citrine is usually a softer champagne yellow. "Madeira" citrine is a deep golden orange. Ametrine combines amethyst purple and citrine yellow in a single crystal.
Hardness and durability
Citrine is 7 on the Mohs scale with good toughness. Suitable for everyday rings, earrings and pendants. Prolonged exposure to strong sunlight or intense heat can fade colour over time, particularly in treated material, so avoid long sun exposure.
What to look for
Colour saturation drives value. A vivid, saturated golden orange with red flashes is the most valued. Eye-clean clarity is normal. Cut should be designed to spread colour through the stone, which matters more for paler material.
Treatments and origins
Most citrine is heat treated amethyst. Some is heat treated smoky quartz. The treatments are stable. Brazil is the main source for both raw amethyst and the citrine produced from it. Bolivia produces ametrine. Other sources include Spain, Madagascar and Russia.
Best uses
Cocktail rings, pendants and earrings. Citrine pairs naturally with yellow gold for a warm, classic look. Large citrine over 10 carats is affordable, so bold statement pieces are easy to make. Ametrine creates striking bi-coloured rings and pendants.
Care
Clean with warm soapy water and a soft cloth. Ultrasonic is generally safe. Avoid prolonged exposure to strong sunlight or intense heat to protect colour. Store separately from harder gems.
Price
Citrine is one of the cheapest fine coloured stones. Large eye-clean citrine over 10 carats is realistic on a modest budget. Madeira citrine with deep saturated golden orange commands a modest premium.
Designing a custom ring
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Start a custom designOther gemstones to compare
- #01
Amethyst
Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz, coloured by iron and natural radiation.
- #02
Topaz
Topaz is a durable gemstone at 8 on the Mohs scale, available in colours from the prized golden imperial topaz to popular blue topaz.
- #03
Garnet
Garnet is a family of related minerals that share a crystal structure but produce very different colours.
Frequently asked questions
- Is most citrine real?
- Yes, but most citrine is amethyst that has been heat treated to turn yellow or orange. The material is real quartz, the colour change is stable, and the result is called citrine in the trade.
- How can I tell natural citrine from heat-treated amethyst?
- Natural citrine usually has a softer, more uniform yellow. Heat-treated material is often deeper orange and may show subtle colour zoning where the amethyst origin is still visible. A gemologist can tell with a microscope.
- Will citrine fade?
- Prolonged exposure to strong sunlight or intense heat can fade citrine, particularly heat-treated material. Normal indoor wear is not a problem.
- Is citrine the same as topaz?
- No. They are different minerals. Citrine is quartz, topaz is aluminium silicate. Both are November birthstones, which is why they are sometimes confused.
Still deciding
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