Yellow gemstones are like captured and immortalised pieces of sunshine. They’re warm and joyous, and have that light citrusy flair when worn in the summer. In the autumn, they deepen their hue to a crisp and intense mustard. Delicious for the soul. Let’s deep dive into some popular yellow gemstones, so that next time you’re on the hunt for one, you can find identify what you’re looking at quickly and confidently.
What are some of the popular yellow gemstones?
There many gemstones out there that based on the amount of inclusions and chemical impurities, change colour. A great example is a diamond – colourless options are the most popular, red are the most rare. Coloured, or fancy diamonds, come in almost all colours, and this also includes yellow. There are other gemstones like this too. For this reason, I will start the list with gemstones that we think of as yellow first, and continue down to those that may be known primarily for a different shade.
1. Citrine: The Classic Yellow Gemstone
Citrine is a yellow variety of quartz, though the source of its colour is often disputed. Some say it’s linked to aluminum-based colour centers within its crystal structure, others argue that it is due to traces of iron. The hues of this gem range from pale yellow to rich amber, or even yellow-green. Its striking colour is believed to be similar to smoky quartz in origin. Natural citrine is very, very rare. But there’s plenty of it on the market.
Huh? How? You just mentioned it was rare?
What if I told you that citrine is actually amethyst in disguise. When amethyst is heated above 200–300°C, it loses its purple look and transforms into a golden shade that mimics natural citrine, though it often has a brownish tone and visible colour zoning. Unlike natural citrine, which forms through geological processes, heat-treated citrine owes its colour to iron oxide minerals like hematite and goethite.
Do you remember the article I wrote about Queen Charlotte’s amethyst bracelet which cost an estimated £100m? The article on amethyst is here. If you don’t fancy reading it, the abbreviation is that amethysts used to be superbly expensive, until an abundance of deposits was found in Brazil. Because citrine is often amethyst with a moustache, Brazil is also the world’s leading producer of citrine, particularly from the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The name citrine comes from the Latin word citrina, meaning yellow.
Historically, citrine was used during the Hellenistic period in ancient Greece as early as 300–150 BC. It was used to adorn jewellery and tools – but was not particularly sought after. It’s also known as a merchant’s gem, superstitiously attributing it to growth in money and wealth.
Citrine ranks 7/10 on Mohs scale of hardness.
2. Amber: The Yellow Gemstone With Shades of Egg Yolk and Butterscotch
Amber is a unique yellow gemstone, fascinating not only collectors but also geologists, historians, and even folk healers. It is the fossilised resin of ancient trees, primarily from the Baltic region, where forests once stood. Over time, climatic shifts submerged these woodlands, and the resin gradually transformed into amber. By gradually, I mean up to 320 million years – which is what the oldest amber ever found dates to. Despite its beauty, amber is very delicate, making it prone to scratching and breaking. It is also flammable, it has been used for lighting due to its long burn time.
Unlike most gemstones, amber gains in value from its inclusions rather than losing it. Think trapped air bubbles, insects, and plants that offer a glimpse into prehistoric ecosystems. It comes in various colours, from classic honey tones to very specific egg yolk and butterscotch yellows. Though amber has been worn as jewelry since the Stone Age, only 15% of mined amber is suitable for adornment, while the rest is used for decorative arts, folk medicine, and even incense.
While you can read my deeper dive into amber jewellery, another gemstone that we cherish today that was born of similar ingredients, aka trees plus the passage of time is jet.
Amber ranks 2-2.5/10 on Mohs scale of hardness.
3. Sphene: Yellow Gemstone… But Also A Disco Ball
Sphene, also known as titanite, is a very rare yellow gemstone that simply ignites with incredible fire. Its chemical composition is calcium titanium neosilicate. With more dispersion than a diamond, this gem unleashes a whole rainbow of colours when well-cut. Despite its stunning brilliance, sphene remains relatively unknown due to its rarity, especially in sizes over two carats. It usually is yellow, and goes all the way to a peridot-hued lime shade, and even orange or brown, but always retaining its crazy fire.
Most sphene today comes from Brazil and Madagascar, with smaller finds in Canada, Austria and Switzerland. It’s softer than many popular gems, making it ideal for earrings and pendants, and dress rings rather than daily-wear pieces. Unless you are a very cautious person.
As new sources emerge, sphene may become slightly more available. However for now, it remains extremely rare, and this is most likely why not many have heard of it.
Sphene or titanite ranks 5-5.5/10 on Mohs scale of hardness.
4. Heliodor: Emerald, Only Yellow
Morganite is from the same family as emerald, only pink. Heliodor is also from the same crew, only yellow. A synonym often used for heliodor is golden beryl. The hues of this yellow gemstone range from soft sunshine tones to deep golden shades. While both names are sometimes used interchangeably, golden beryl refers to pure yellow varieties, while heliodor comes with a greenish tint.
Sourced primarily from Brazil, Madagascar, Namibia, and Ukraine, golden beryl is cherished for its beauty and resilience, making it an excellent choice for jewellery like rings, pendants, and earrings as it’s not as soft as amber, and even harder than citrine.
Fun fact, the largest cut golden beryl in the world is a flawless 2,054-carat gemstone (that’s 90g short of half a kilo!). It’s on display in the Hall of Gems in Washington, D.C.. That’s a chunk of the sun.
Heliodor or golden beryl ranks 5-5.5/10 on Mohs scale of hardness.
5. Yellow Topaz: Any Old Yellow Gemstone, Basically
You know that feeling when you do tons of hard work, and your boss takes over and presents it as his own? This. This is the story yellow topaz. Historically, yellow topaz was often mistaken for other golden gems, and in the Middle Ages, the name topaz was used to describe any yellow stone. In particular, it has been labelled as citrine, which is a quartz. But with the two yellow gemstones looking so similar, what actually is the difference? Yellow topaz is significantly heavier, and has a higher refractive index, giving it a more brilliant sparkle. One way to tell quartz from topaz is by placing the stones in a dense liquid like bromoform: Topaz will sink, while quartz will float. Additionally, topaz takes on an exceptionally smooth polish, making it feel slicker than quartz when touched.
The gem’s name is believed to originate from the Greek topázios, the ancient name of an island in the Red Sea, though it may also be linked to the Sanskrit word tapas, meaning heat or fire. In ancient Rome, yellow topaz was thought to provide protection during travel.
In its pure form, topaz is coloruless, but trace elements like iron give yellow topaz its signature golden hue. This gemstone forms in igneous rocks and is commonly found in Brazil, Pakistan, and Russia.
Yellow topaz ranks 8/10 on Mohs scale of hardness.
6. Yellow Sapphire: A Popular Engagement Ring Gem
Yellow sapphire, a prized member of the corundum family, is admired for its striking light honey hue and remarkable durability. The only gems that are harder than sapphires are diamonds and moissanites. The presence of iron during the formation sapphires is responsible for its vibrant yellow color, setting it apart from other fancy corundums. While sapphires are associated with the colour blue, yellow sapphires have become popular engagement ring options.
Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Thailand are the primary hotspots for yellow sapphires. Some of these gems exhibit a phenomenon called pleochroism, meaning they can show different shades of yellow when viewed from different angles.
Yellow sapphire ranks 9/10 on Mohs scale of hardness.
8. Honourable Mentions: Yellow Diamond, Yellow Zircon, Tourmaline, Yellow Moissanite
- Yellow diamonds are among the rarest and most luxurious, known for their brilliance, and of course the fact that they are the world’s hardest material.
- Yellow zircon, often mistaken for diamond due to its high refractive index, boasts incredible fire and sparkle.
- Tourmaline comes in a variety of yellow shades, ranging from soft golden hues to vibrant canary tones.
- Yellow moissanite, a lab-created gemstone, provides remarkable brilliance and durability at a more affordable price.
The list does not end here. Does the list even end? There may be further yellow gemstones out there, yet to be discovered.
In the images, I am wearing two different sunny gemstones, yellow topaz and citrine. You’ll have to guess which is which. I loved that the location matched my mood for yellow gems – it is the the yellow fort of São Tiago in Funchal, Madeira.
Do you wear yellow gemstones, or how I call them, immortalised pieces of sunshine?
If you want to explore more coloured gemstone articles, I’ve written one on pink gemstones, green gems that are not emeralds, and even black rocks too.
3 Responses
Thank you for showing us the world of yellow gemstones
Do you wear any yellow gems? I can’t stop thinking about sphene! It’s like a discoball + yellow!
How pretty! I do love the pop of unique yellow.
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