Cut Oval-Shaped Citrine Gemstone
This citrine gemstone has been included in our Special Offers promo. Offer ends 12th November.
Citrine which is a relatively rare mineral is the yellow variety of the mineral quartz.
Citrine can be a very subtle shade of yellow or a shade that's far more distinctive. It can also be brownish-yellow, more orange than yellow or veering towards a shade of green. The precise cause of the mineral's colour is still not fully understood.
The colour of citrine is sensitive to UV light. When heated to a temperature that exceeds 500°C (932°F) it loses its colour but interestingly, when exposed to heat by means of radiation its colour returns.
Due to citrine being as rare as it is vast quantities of stone are produced by heating amethyst. When amethyst is heated it gradually turns yellow. One of the easiest way to tell natural citrine from heated amethyst is price.
A natural citrine gemstone of this size and weight (44.5 carats) would be at least three times the price if not more. There are other ways to tell natural citrine from heated amethyst and one that's particularly noticeable in this gemstone is the different shades of colour.
A typical characteristic of amethyst is colour zoning. In many but certainly not all amethyst crystals a visible difference in the shade of colour can be seen. That doesn't change when the stone is heated.
The colour zoning in this gemstone is quite easy to see. Personally I think it adds character and reminds us that in their purest form (void of impurities) quartz crystals are colourless and transparent.
If you have a few hundred pounds spare and can find a natural citrine gemstone of this size then it's a good investment. If not this stone is a great alternative. Be aware so much citrine being advertised as "natural citrine" is heated amethyst.
This citrine gemstone has been faceted entirely by hand. It reflects light beautifully from every angle. Its colour varies depending on the direction from which the stone is being viewed.
