In this article
Written by Sameer
Reviewed on
Few stones sold in Pakistan swing in price as much as yellow sapphire, or pukhraj. Two stones that look almost the same on your phone can be far apart in value once you look at depth of colour, origin and treatment. Here is how we judge those things at the counter, so you can make sense of any quote you are given.
Colour: lemon through to golden
Pukhraj runs from a pale lemon to a deep golden or canary yellow. The most valued colour is clean, bright and well saturated, with no brown or green showing through. Very pale stones cost much less. Look at the colour both in daylight and under indoor light, and check that it is even across the whole face.
Treatment: unheated, heated and diffused
- Unheated pukhraj with good colour sells at a clear premium, and it is what many astrology buyers ask for by name.
- Heated stones are common and their colour is stable. They cost less than an unheated stone that looks the same.
- Beryllium-diffused stones get their colour from a high-temperature process, often a strong orange-yellow. They should be far cheaper, and the seller must tell you.
Only a lab can confirm treatment with confidence, so get the seller's word in writing and send a costly stone for testing.
Where it comes from
Sri Lanka is the most famous source of yellow sapphire, and you will hear "Ceylon pukhraj" all the time in the trade. Thailand, Madagascar and Australia supply the market too. Origin can affect price, but only when a lab report backs it up, never on someone's say-so.
Clarity, cut and size
Look for a stone that appears clean to the eye. A good cut gives even brightness, with no dead, see-through patch in the middle. Size multiplies everything else: big, clean, well-coloured stones climb in price per carat.
Imitations
Yellow glass, citrine and yellow topaz all get sold as pukhraj from time to time. Glass shows round bubbles and warms up quickly in the hand. Citrine and topaz are softer and do not have sapphire's brilliance, and a gem tester tells them apart. A stone that is flawless, vivid and cheap all at once is a warning.
Durability
Yellow sapphire is 9 on the Mohs scale, which makes it an excellent choice for a ring you never take off.
Pukhraj in tradition
In South Asian astrology pukhraj belongs to Jupiter (Brihaspati) and is traditionally worn for wisdom, prosperity and sound judgement. These are beliefs, not promised results, so agree the weight, metal and finger with your astrologer. Our rashi guide lists the common pairings.
Before you pay
Make sure the stone is natural, the treatment is stated in writing and the weight is for the cut stone. We check every stone and photograph each one separately, and a certificate or independent lab test can be arranged on request. Browse yellow sapphire, or compare blue topaz and jasper. Our gem names page has Urdu and English names. Cash on Delivery reaches Karachi first, usually in 1 to 2 working days, then Lahore and every other city.
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