Citrine covers a long colour range, and the pale end is worth understanding rather than dismissing. This is the softest-coloured stone in our collection — a light, clear yellow with a faint olive cast rather than the deep honey or orange of the richer stones.

The stone

4.45 carats, which is 4.89 ratti. Shape: oval — recorded for this individual stone. Recorded colour: golden yellow. Rs. 10,880, about Rs. 2,445 per carat, reference GS-000205.

Why a pale citrine can be the better buy

• It is closer to natural colour. Natural-colour citrine is paler and less common than the deep stones, most of which get their colour from heat. A soft yellow is more likely to be what the ground produced.
• It does not go brown. The commonest fault in deep citrine is a muddy brownish cast. A light stone has nowhere to hide it and nothing to hide.
• It shows the cut. In a pale transparent stone you can see the facet work and the brilliance, which a dense colour swallows.
• It suits daily wear. Soft yellow reads as fresh rather than formal, and it goes with more than a strong orange does.

The honest caveat

Pale citrine costs less per carat than deep citrine in most of the market, because saturation is what the trade grades on. This stone sits at Rs. 2,445 per carat, which is towards the upper end of our range despite the light colour — that reflects the cut and the clean oval outline rather than the shade. If you want maximum colour for your money, the deeper stones in the citrine collection give more; if you want a clean, light, well-cut stone, this is the one.

Where citrine colour comes from

Much of the citrine on the market is heat-treated amethyst — the same mineral, turned from purple to yellow by heating, 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 this piece has not been tested. Independent laboratory testing can be arranged.

Setting a pale stone

Ask for an open back — light entering from behind is what keeps a pale transparent stone bright, and a closed mount makes it look flat. 925 silver and white gold keep the yellow clean; yellow gold can absorb a light stone into the metal. Exact length and width have not been recorded for this piece, and on an oval the ratio decides how the ring reads, so ask us to measure it before your jeweller orders a mount.

Care

Citrine is 7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage. Warm soapy water and a soft brush; avoid ultrasonic cleaners and prolonged direct sunlight, which can pale citrine further 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, seven days to return it unused — WhatsApp +92 308 887 3888 for photographs under different lighting first if you want to judge the shade.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural citrine, known in Urdu as Sunela, with a weight of 4.45 Carat. Its price is Rs. 10,880 — roughly Rs. 2,445 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000205 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.