Citrine
Citrine is the transparent, pale yellow to brownish orange variety of quartz.
Citrine is a transparent variety of quartz that ranges in colour from pale yellow to brownish orange. In the past, its tawny hue often led to confusion with topaz. Today, Citrine is popular for its vibrant colour, durability, and affordability, making it the leading choice among yellow-to-orange gemstones. It serves as an appealing alternative to both topaz and yellow sapphire, with the most prized Citrine displaying a deep yellow to reddish orange without any brownish undertones.
Due to the rarity of natural Citrine, most gemstones on the market are heat-treated amethyst, which transforms from a pale violet to a vibrant yellow. The original colour of the amethyst can influence the intensity of the resulting Citrine's yellow hue.
Overview
Iron
A trace of iron in Citrine’s structure is responsible for its yellow-to-orange colour.
Heat
Natural Citrine is rare. Most Citrine on the market is the result of heat treatment of amethyst.
Popular
Citrine is recognised as one of the most popular and frequently purchased yellow gemstones.
Facts
Mineral: Chrysoberyl
Mineral: Quartz
Chemical composition: SiO2
Colour: Yellow to orange to orangy red
Refractive index: 1.544 to 1.553
Specific gravity: 2.66 (+0.03/-0.02)
Mohs hardness: 7
Birthstones & Anniversaries
Along with topaz, Citrine is a birthstone for November. It’s also recognized as the gem that commemorates the thirteenth anniversary.
Information on this page has been sourced from the Gemmological Institute Of America (GIA) to learn more about Citrine’s please visit https://www.gia.edu/citrine to learn more or click the above learn more button.