The facts
What yellow Sapphire actually is
The species behind yellow Sapphire is corundum, Al₂O₃; it forms in the trigonal system.
Fe³⁺ pairs and/or radiation-induced colour centres; the colour-centre yellow can be unstable 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 1.762–1.770 and a specific gravity of about 3.97–4.05, with none; parting cleavage.
Where yellow Sapphire comes from
Commercial material comes from Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, Ilakaka, Madagascar, Mogok, Myanmar and Kaduna, Nigeria.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How yellow Sapphire is treated
Heating is routine. Irradiation produces a yellow that can fade in light and is difficult to detect; beryllium diffusion creates strong golden and orange tones. Astrological demand in South Asia sustains a large treated market.
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 yellow Sapphire is confused with
Watch for Citrine, Yellow beryl (heliodor), Chrysoberyl and Yellow topaz — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.762–1.770 and specific gravity 3.97–4.05 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What yellow Sapphire is used for
The trades that buy yellow Sapphire are jewellery. 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.
Durability and care
Hardness 9; cleavage none; parting. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
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 yellow Sapphire costs
Expect roughly Commercial heated $100–$600/ct; fine unheated Ceylon $1,500–$6,000/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 yellow Sapphire treated, and how?
Heating is routine. Irradiation produces a yellow that can fade in light and is difficult to detect; beryllium diffusion creates strong golden and orange tones. Astrological demand in South Asia sustains a large treated market.
Where does yellow Sapphire come from?
Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, Ilakaka, Madagascar, Mogok, Myanmar and Kaduna, Nigeria. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is yellow Sapphire hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 9 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 yellow Sapphire cost?
Indicatively Commercial heated $100–$600/ct; fine unheated Ceylon $1,500–$6,000/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 yellow Sapphire confused with?
Most often Citrine, Yellow beryl (heliodor), Chrysoberyl and Yellow topaz. A refractive index of 1.762–1.770 and a specific gravity near 3.97–4.05 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for yellow sapphire?
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 yellow sapphire