Five carats is the size most people settle on for a ring, and this stone is exactly that — five carats on the nose, not four and a half rounded up or five and a quarter described loosely. Worth saying, because carat weights in listings are often approximate and the difference shows in the price.

The stone

5 carats, which is 5.49 ratti. Recorded colour: golden. Rs. 11,250, Rs. 2,250 per carat, reference GS-000295.

What 5 carats looks like on a hand

People read carats as an abstract number and then get a surprise when the parcel arrives, so here is the practical version. A 5 carat faceted citrine covers most of the width of an average adult finger. Set in a 925 silver bezel it reads as a proper gemstone ring rather than a dress ring, and it still passes under a shirt cuff without catching. It is the size a jeweller will assume if you ask for "a Sunela for a ring" without saying anything else.

Why the rate sits where it does

At Rs. 2,250 per carat this is in the middle-upper part of our citrine range, which runs from about Rs. 620 to Rs. 2,630. In citrine the rate tracks depth of colour almost entirely — the pale olive stones are cheap and the deep golden ones are not. This stone's recorded colour is golden, a warm mid shade, and the rate follows. Our citrine price guide works through the arithmetic.

Where the colour comes from

Much of the citrine on the market is heat-treated amethyst. The two are the same mineral — quartz — and heating purple amethyst turns it yellow to orange permanently. Natural-colour citrine is paler and less common. Our specification sheet says "often heated" for this stone type rather than claiming the colour is natural, and we have not had this piece tested. The treatment is stable and entirely conventional. Independent laboratory testing can be arranged, and you can see the family resemblance in our amethyst collection.

Setting a 5 carat citrine

A bezel or four claws in 925 silver, with an open back so light passes through and the colour stays bright. Citrine is 7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, which makes it one of the easier transparent stones to set — a setter can work on it without the care topaz or tanzanite demand. Shape and measurements have not been recorded for this piece; send your finger size on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and we will measure the stone and quote a mount separately.

Is it citrine or yellow sapphire?

Different minerals, and the gap matters. Sapphire is 9 on the Mohs scale and noticeably denser; citrine is 7. The price difference is large, so if pukhraj is being offered at this kind of rate, it is citrine. Our yellow sapphire versus citrine guide sets out the checks.

Care

Warm soapy water and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners, and keep it out of long spells in direct sunlight, which can pale citrine over years.

Ordering

One piece only. Flat Rs. 500 delivery anywhere in Pakistan, insured and tracked, dispatched in one to two working days. Cash on Delivery — open the parcel and look at the stone before you pay — and seven days to return it unused. More sizes in the citrine collection.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural citrine, known in Urdu as Sunela, with a weight of 5 Carat. Its price is Rs. 11,250 — roughly Rs. 2,250 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000295 when you message us about it. The photographs show this exact stone, so what arrives at your door is the piece you chose on screen.

Between two and six carats is the range most people choose for a gents' ring or a noticeable pendant. Here colour drives the price more than size does, which is why two stones of near-identical weight can be priced very differently.

On the Mohs scale citrine rates 7. It handles daily wear, but a hard knock can still nick an exposed corner, so a protective setting is a sensible choice. Clean it with warm soapy water and a soft brush, and keep it away from abrasive cleaners and high heat.

Whoever you buy citrine from, make sure of three things: the stone is natural rather than lab-grown, glass or glass-filled; any treatment is stated in writing; and the weight quoted is the weight of the finished stone. We check every citrine for those three points before it is listed, a certificate is available on request, and because you pay on delivery you can look at the stone — or have it tested — before any money changes hands.

We sell natural stones only and inspect each one before it is listed. Treatment for this stone: Treatment not tested. Certificate available on request. As general background (not a statement about this stone): Much citrine on the market is heat-treated amethyst; natural-colour citrine is paler and less common. Ask us on WhatsApp and we will tell you what we know about this exact stone; independent lab testing is available on request.

A certificate of authenticity is available on request for this stone, and independent laboratory testing can be arranged. Because you pay on delivery, you can also take the stone to a lab of your choice within the 7-day return window. Read more on our authenticity page.