Yellow gemstone is one of a kind colored stone that will look fancy and elegant every day.
In this guide will are going to cover all you need to know about yellow gemstones, including:
- What is a yellow gemstone
- The best place to buy yellow gemstones
- A review of the best yellow gemstones
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What are Yellow Gemstones?
In the recent past, jewelry lovers have started to gain affection for colored gemstones and yellow gemstones are slowly claiming a share of the market. The stones are available either in treated or untreated varieties.
The color yellow goes a long way in adding brightness and vibrancy to any outfit that you put on. Yellow is associated with health, luck and in some cultures, wealth.
If you love to wear eye-catching gemstones that ooze enlightenment and freshness, sit back and relax as we are going to explore different kinds of yellow gemstones found in the jewelry world.
Watch the video below to learn more about yellow stones.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM3RogoMb8k
Best Place to Buy Yellow Gemstones
Imperial topaz, citrine, and other yellow gemstones can be found in most jewelry stores and shopping malls.
For people who have some knowledge about technology and love comfort, there are reputable online stores that sell different kinds of yellow gemstones at lower prices than physical stores. Online retailers like Blue Nile and James Allen are good to start.
Types Of Yellow Gemstones
There are more than a hundred types of yellow gemstones. Here is a list of some of the best and popular yellow stones.
- Yellow sapphire
- Amber
- Yellow diamond
- Citrine
- Yellow topaz
- Yellow garnet
- Yellow tourmaline
- Yellow jade
- Yellow chrysoberyl
- Golden beryl (heliodor)
Yellow Gemstone Names and Pictures
#1. Yellow Sapphire
- Very tough
- Good brilliance
- Costs between $900 and $3,000
When people talk about sapphire stones, then blue is the color that comes to mind. Sapphire comes in a variety of colors apart from red. A red sapphire is actually ruby.
Yellow sapphires have very clear colors and can be found in many hues from faint to dark yellow. A sapphire stone is made from corundum and the yellow hue is gotten from iron impurities that get trapped in the stone when the crystal is being formed.
How valuable a yellow sapphire depends on how saturated the color is. Yellow sapphires that have high color intensity and iron content are more valuable than lighter ones.
Yellow sapphire is cheaper than blue sapphires and ruby. Its hardness level is 9 on the Mohs scale. This stone is tougher than diamond because of the strong chemical formation.
Given their toughness, these gemstones are resistant to cracks and scratches and can make do for everyday jewelry. However, you will need routine maintenance so that the stone does not become cloudy.
Pros
- Yellow gold substitute
- Very hard
Cons
- Needs routine maintenance
- Certain types are expensive
RECOMMENDED: Where to Buy Blue Sapphire Online
#2. Yellow Amber
- Very soft
- Reacts to chemicals
- Natural gemstone
- Costs between $0.5 and$2
Amber is a unique stone that completely forms from natural substances, fossilized tree resin to be exact. Insects and plants are the common inclusions that form unique patterns in the stone.
These rarely found inclusions make the price of amber gemstone go up. Also the deeper the color, the more valuable the stone is. The color of amber gemstones can also be heat-treated to make the yellow-orange shade a little vivid.
Amber measures only 2 on Mohs and thus it is not suitable for jewelry to be used in tough environments. This low level of hardness makes it easy for this stone to crack or break. Another drawback is that amber reacts to chemicals like alcohol and cologne. Exposure to extreme temperatures can cause this yellow stone to break easily.
Pros
- Every stone is unique
Cons
- Very low price
- Vulnerable
#3. Yellow Diamond
- Hardest stone
- Exceptional brilliance and fire
- Costs between $1,000 and $5,000
The yellow diamond is among the most common and affordable colored diamonds. The yellow color is derived from traces of nitrogen that get into the stone during the process of formation.
Diamonds in general are known for their great fire and brilliance; yellow diamonds possess the same optical characteristics too.
The intensity of color in yellow diamonds is the main factor considered when valuing these stones. If you want a high-quality yellow diamond stone, your best pick would be a beautiful vivid yellow stone.
The price may also be shaken a bit by any undertones that the stone may have. Greenish undertones cause the price to go up, whereas brown shades lower the value.
Yellow diamonds are among the most expensive diamonds, and thus you will find synthetic variations at cheaper prices in the stores too. In addition, these stones are sometimes treated under high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) and sold at lower prices.
Pros
- Common type of yellow gemstone
- Very durable
Cons
- Very costly
While natural yellow diamonds are costly, their counterparts; lab-created yellow diamonds, are quite affordable.
RECOMMENDED: Where to Buy Yellow Diamonds
#4. Citrine
- Found in plenty
- Durability is medium
- Very transparent
- Costs between $40 and $60
Citrine is a common yellow gemstone that gets its name from the French word citron that means lemon. This stone looks pretty in its yellow-orange shade that makes any jewelry shine from afar.
Citrine measures 7 when it comes to hardness and can be used on jewelry to be worn every day. This stone retails at a low price, making it easily replaceable if it breaks.
Given its roots in the quartz family, citrine is found in plenty and at a low price. Although it is not easy to find a naturally colored stone. Their color is normally enhanced by heating which is a normal procedure with all citrine gemstones.
For example, smoky quartz is heated to give a yellow-orange hue to citrine. The stone is normally faceted to improve on the color.
Citrine is very clear and shiny, it hardly comes with blemishes. This stone is known to represent contentment and happiness and thus common amongst crystal healers.
Pros
- Very common gem
- Ideal for everyday jewelry
Cons
- Heat-treated
#5. Yellow Topaz
- Associated with royalty
- Very durable
- High brilliance
- Costs between $5 and $10
This is a favorite choice for jewelers and has been like so for many years. The yellow topaz gets its name from a Greek island called Tapazios. These yellow gems come in different shades of yellow from dark yellow to orange and bright yellow.
The bright yellow stones are the commonest. Darker options such as imperial topaz are rare and expensive too. The royalties in Russia are known to love imperial topaz.
On the scale of hardness, yellow topaz is at number 8 and is suitable for jewelry that will be worn regularly. Most yellow topazes are naturally rich in color but a few will be heat treated to enhance the color.
On the face, yellow topaz is transparent and shiny,
Pros
- Incredible brilliance
Cons
- Rare
#6. Yellow Garnet
- Most are not easily found
- Exceptional fire
- High rate of dispersion
- Costs between $300 and $2,000
Garnets are most popular for their rich red hue, but they can also be found in several other colors. Among the colors is yellow that comes in different names and forms.
There is a type of yellow garnet known as hessonite and the other is topazite which is a variation of andradite garnet. The topazite variety is very rare and when found, a 1-carat stone can carry a price tag that is tens of thousands of dollars.
Mali garnet is another variety of this yellow gemstone. This stone’s chemical composition is a mixture of grossular and andradite.
Yellow garnets are widely known since their rates of light dispersion are higher than diamonds and they have excellent fire too. These kinds of stones are normally clean to the naked eye and mostly don’t have inclusions.
The price tag for a yellow garnet gemstone is spread to cater to people of all budget sizes. This stone is medium hard ranking at 6.5 to7 on the measure of the hardness scale.
Pros
- Eye clean stones
Cons
- Some variations are expensive
#7. Yellow Tourmaline
- Extremely rare
- Durability is medium
- Costs between $100 and $500
Tourmalines may not be rare but you will move through many jewelry shops to get one that is perfectly yellow.
Most physical stores do not have this stone in stock hence its high price.
Manganese and iron are the two minerals responsible for the yellow hue found in this stone. Yellow tourmaline is vivid and mostly faceted to make it more brilliant.
At 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, this gem is hard and with routine maintenance, it can last long. Yellow tourmalines have blemishes, but given how rare this stone is, the inclusions do not affect its price.
Pros
- Good for everyday jewelry
Cons
- Majority have blemishes
#8. Yellow Jade
- Extremely rare
- Big crystals
- Costs between $300 and $1,000
Yellow jade is formed as a result of the mineral tantalum getting trapped as the crystals form. Jade gems come in two forms-nephrite and jadeite, both of which have yellow hues.
Nephrite is common of the two kinds of jade and mostly has big crystals. It is used in jewelry making as well as carving and sculpting especially when crystals are very big. Jadeite has small crystals and is commonly used to make jewelry.
Yellow jade measures 6 when it comes to hardness and is not among the toughest gemstones on this list.
This gemstone is very rare in the market, the ones found are normally enhanced using heat which lowers their quality. You can find yellow jade in shades of pale yellow to deep gold.
Pros
- Relatively cheap
Cons
- Not very durable
#9. Yellow Chrysoberyl
- Very long-lasting
- Sparkly
- Common gemstone
- Costs between $200 and $800
Chrysoberyl gemstone comes in lots of varieties but the yellow one is normally transparent to translucent. The hues run from yellow to yellow-green. The most valuable varieties of chrysoberyl are cymophane (cat’s eye or chatoyancy) and alexandrite. On the good side, the yellow chrysoberyl is affordable,
Upon faceting, this gem shows a glass-like shine and its brilliance is above par. however, this gem does not have sufficient fire to disperse light.
This stone has a hardness ranking of 8.5 after diamond and sapphire. With this level of hardness, you can use chrysoberyl to make rings and other everyday-wear pieces of jewelry.
Pros
- Durable
Cons
- Not so good fire
- Not widely known
# 10. Golden Beryl (Heliodor)
- Sapphire substitute
- Transparent stone
- Quite affordable
- Cost between $30 and $500
Golden beryl is also referred to as Heliodor which means “gift from the sun.” this is a very clear and transparent stone that has zero inclusions. It is not expensive and comes in different yellow hues.
Some types of golden beryl undergo irradiation for their optical properties to be enhanced. This stone is also cut in specific settings to improve its spotless clarity.
If you like to have sapphire jewelry but your budget does not allow heliodor makes a great alternative. It has a hardness of 7.5 to 8. This gemstone makes a good choice for engagement and wedding rings.
Pros
- Few inclusions
- Widely available
- Durable
Cons
- Not so popular