In citrine, depth of colour is the whole price story, and this stone is at the deep end of ours. Measured against every other citrine photograph in our collection it carries the strongest colour — a dark golden yellow that tips towards orange rather than fading to a pale honey.

The stone

5.65 carats, which is 6.21 ratti. Recorded colour: orange. Rs. 12,750, about Rs. 2,257 per carat, reference GS-000202.

One note on wording. The specification sheet records this stone's colour as orange; this listing calls it a dark yellow. Those are the same thing described from two directions — in citrine the deep end of yellow is an orange-gold, and the two words are used interchangeably in the trade. Judge it from the photograph, which is not colour-corrected.

How citrine colour is graded

• Depth first. The richer the colour, the higher the rate. Pale olive material in our range sits near Rs. 620 per carat; the deep stones pass Rs. 2,600.
• Evenness. Colour should run across the whole stone rather than concentrating at one end. Zoning is common in quartz and pulls the value down.
• How it reads indoors. A deep citrine holds its colour under a room lamp; a pale one washes out.
• Brown is the fault to watch for. Some deep citrine tips into a muddy brown. A clean orange-gold is what you want.

Where deep colour comes from

Largely from heat. Much of the citrine on the market is heat-treated amethyst — the same mineral, quartz, turned from purple to yellow or orange by heating, and the change is permanent. Natural-colour citrine is paler and less common, which is exactly why the deep stones are so consistently available.

Our specification sheet says "often heated" for this stone type rather than claiming the colour arrived on its own, and we have not had this piece tested. The treatment is stable and conventional; what matters is that nobody pretends otherwise. Independent laboratory testing can be arranged. If you want to see the family resemblance, compare against our amethyst collection — same mineral, different colour.

What a deep stone suits

Warm, strong colour reads well in yellow gold and makes a bold contrast in 925 silver. At 5.65 carats it is a comfortable ring stone. Ask for an open back so light passes through — on a deep stone that matters more, because a closed mount can make it look brown rather than golden.

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 over years — a deeper stone has more to lose.

Ordering

One piece only. Shape and measurements have not been recorded; ask on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and we will measure it. 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. Pricing explained in our citrine price guide.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural citrine, known in Urdu as Sunela, with a weight of 5.65 Carat. Its price is Rs. 12,750 — roughly Rs. 2,257 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000202 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.