Citrine Quality Factors

This award-winning 30.28-ct. super-trillion cut displays citrine’s highly valued, saturated orangy red color. – John Dyer, gem courtesy John Dyer & Co.
This award-winning 30.28-ct. super-trillion cut displays citrine’s highly valued, saturated orangy red color. – John Dyer, gem courtesy John Dyer & Co.

Color

Citrine’s attractive color, plus the durability and affordability it shares with most other quartzes, makes it the top-selling yellow-to-orange gem. A saturated yellow to reddish orange color free of brownish tints is prized in citrine, although in the contemporary market, citrine’s most popular shade is an earthy hue—a deep brownish or reddish orange.

This group of rough and fashioned citrines exhibits the reddish orange colors enjoyed by consumers. - Dan Van Rossen, courtesy ICA
This group of rough and fashioned citrines exhibits the reddish orange colors enjoyed by consumers. - Dan Van Rossen, courtesy ICA
Citrine’s colors range from pale brownish yellow shades like this one to intense reddish orange hues. - Robert Weldon
Citrine’s colors range from pale brownish yellow shades like this one to intense reddish orange hues. - Robert Weldon

Since natural citrine is rare, most of the citrine on the market is the result of heat treatment, which causes some amethyst to change color from undesirable pale violet to attractive yellow. The amethyst’s original hue can determine the richness of the resulting citrine’s yellow.

Low-temperature heat treatment transformed an amethyst into this orangy citrine. A gem carver created the attractive fantasy cut. - GIA & Tino Hammid
This fantasy-cut citrine started out as an amethyst. Its orange hues are the result of low-temperature heat treatment. - GIA & Tino Hammid
Lime-colored citrine can result from heat treatment of smoky quartz. The gem’s designer used some frosted facets to highlight its trendy color. – Lydia Dyer, gem courtesy John Dyer & Co
Lime-colored citrine can result from heat treatment of smoky quartz. The gem’s designer used some frosted facets to highlight its trendy color. – Lydia Dyer, gem courtesy John Dyer & Co

Clarity

Dealers look for citrines without color zoning or visible inclusions. Much of the faceted citrine in the market is eye-clean, meaning it lacks eye-visible inclusions.

Most faceted citrine on the market has no eye-visible inclusions. - Robert Weldon
Most faceted citrine on the market has no eye-visible inclusions. - Robert Weldon
Microscopic inclusions in citrine are usually not visible without high magnification.
Microscopic inclusions in citrine are usually not visible without high magnification.

Cut

Although citrine is available in standard shapes and sizes, in recent years many high-end jewelry designers and gem carvers have fashioned the warm yellow gem into unusual cuts for jewelry and carvings.

A medley of oval-cut citrines in various sizes graces this elegant necklace. – GIA & Tino Hammid, courtesy a private collector
A medley of oval-cut citrines in various sizes graces this elegant necklace. – GIA & Tino Hammid, courtesy a private collector
Citrine carvings by gem designer Michael Dyber adorn a showcase at a Tucson gem show. - Eric Welch, courtesy Michael Dyber
Citrine carvings by gem designer Michael Dyber adorn a showcase at a Tucson gem show. - Eric Welch, courtesy Michael Dyber
This golden cat is carved in citrine from Brazil. Its eyes are made of peridot and gold. - Robert Weldon
This golden cat is carved in citrine from Brazil. Its eyes are made of peridot and gold. - Robert Weldon

Carat Weight

Citrine crystals occur in a wide range of sizes, and citrines of up to 20 carats are readily available in jewelry.

Award-winning gem designer John Dyer calls this gem’s cutting style the Regal Radiant Cut. It weighs 19.90 carats. – Lydia Dyer, gem courtesy John Dyer & Co.
Award-winning gem designer John Dyer calls this gem’s cutting style the Regal Radiant Cut. It weighs 19.90 carats. – Lydia Dyer, gem courtesy John Dyer & Co.
John Dyer’s Lime Citrine Reflections™ is a gem with an attractive lime green color, a fascinating designer cut, and a weight of 33.35 carats. – Lydia Dyer, gem courtesy of John Dyer & Co.
John Dyer’s Lime Citrine Reflections™ is a gem with an attractive lime green color, a fascinating designer cut, and a weight of 33.35 carats. – Lydia Dyer, gem courtesy of John Dyer & Co.