The facts
What citrine actually is
The species behind citrine is quartz, SiO₂; it forms in the trigonal system.
Iron is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.544–1.553 and a specific gravity of about 2.65, with none cleavage.
Where citrine comes from
Commercial material comes from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Bolivia, Madagascar and Zambia.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How citrine is treated
Most citrine on the market is heated amethyst. Natural citrine exists and is scarce.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What citrine is confused with
Watch for Heat-treated amethyst, Yellow topaz and Heliodor — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.544–1.553 and specific gravity 2.65 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What citrine is used for
The trades that buy citrine are jewellery, architecture and interiors and mineral collecting. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the square metre or by the specimen.
Durability and care
Citrine is 7 on the Mohs scale, with none cleavage.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What citrine costs
Expect roughly $5–40/ct, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is citrine treated, and how?
Most citrine on the market is heated amethyst. Natural citrine exists and is scarce.
Where does citrine come from?
Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Bolivia, Madagascar and Zambia. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is citrine hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does citrine cost?
Indicatively $5–40/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is citrine confused with?
Most often Heat-treated amethyst, Yellow topaz and Heliodor. A refractive index of 1.544–1.553 and a specific gravity near 2.65 separate it quickly.
What is citrine used for besides jewellery?
architecture and interiors and mineral collecting. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for citrine?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about citrine