Natural Citrine (Sunela) Stone in Pakistan

Sunela is not Pukhraj

This is the mix-up we hear about most. Yellow citrine is sometimes sold as Pukhraj, but they are different stones. Real Pukhraj is yellow sapphire, a corundum that rates 9 on the Mohs scale and costs far more. Citrine is quartz, rated 7, and a lovely gem in its own right. If you are buying for Pukhraj's astrological role, be sure which one you are getting. Our listings always name the mineral.

The shades of citrine

• Lemon citrine - a clean, bright yellow.
• Golden citrine - the classic warm gold that looks good in a ring.
• Madeira citrine - a deep orange-brown to reddish gold, usually the most valued.

Natural colour or heated?

Naturally coloured citrine is fairly uncommon and tends to be a soft, pale yellow. Much of the citrine sold around the world is heated amethyst, which turns yellow to orange and often shows a slight reddish tint at the corners. Heated citrine is stable and sold everywhere, but it should be described honestly. If we know a stone has been heated, we say so on the listing.

What makes a Sunela worth more

Colour leads the way: a rich, even, saturated gold without brown or smoky tones is what buyers want. Citrine is usually eye-clean, so visible inclusions pull the price down noticeably. A precise cut with good brilliance lifts any stone, and since bigger citrine is easy to find, the rate rises only gradually with size. The per-carat rate on any listing is its price divided by carat weight.

Citrine or glass?

Citrine feels cool, often shows faint colour zoning and may have tiny natural inclusions. Yellow glass warms up quickly and can show round bubbles or mould marks. Yellow topaz and citrine look alike too, so for an important stone independent testing is the safest route. Our authenticity page explains how we check.

Traditional associations

Citrine is a November birthstone and is popularly called the "merchant's stone". In South Asian astrology it is linked with Jupiter (Brihaspati) and traditionally worn for optimism and abundance, often in gold on the index finger and sometimes as a lighter-on-the-pocket substitute for Pukhraj. These are beliefs, not guaranteed outcomes; consult an astrologer if this is why you are buying.

Care

Mild soap and water is enough. Long spells of strong sunlight can slowly fade some stones, so keep it away from sunny windowsills.

Ordering from Authentic Gems

We check every citrine and photograph it as it is. Delivery is a flat Rs. 500 by insured, tracked courier: Karachi usually 1 to 2 working days, other major cities 2 to 4, smaller towns up to about 7. Open the parcel and check the stone before you pay on Cash on Delivery, and return it unused within 7 days if it is not right.