Citrine VS Yellow Topaz VS Yellow Sapphire

Citrine VS Yellow Topaz VS Yellow Sapphire

Most of People get confused between similar looking stones like Citrine, Yellow Topaz and Yellow Sapphire. In fact all three stones are completely different, with just one similarity i.e. color. All there have different physical, optical & chemical properties as listed in table below. Yellow Sapphire is the hardest and most durable amongst all three. Yellow Sapphire is also more precious (expensive) than both Citrine & Yellow Topaz. So, Yellow Topaz & Citrine are substitutes for Yellow Sapphire. The primary reason of buying a substitute is the Budget. Out of Citrine & Yellow Topaz, Citrine is more abundantly available and less expensive.

Citrine Yellow Topaz Yellow Sapphire
Hindi Name Sunela Topaz Pukhraj
Mineral Quartz Topaz Corundum
Optic Character DR uniaxial + DR biaxial + DR uniaxial -
Hardness 7 8 9
Refractive Index 1.544-1553 1.610-1.620 1.760 – 1.770
Specific Gravity 2.65 3.52 4.00
Transparency Always Transparent Sometimes Transparent Rarely Transparent
Luster Vitreous Vitreous vitreous
Price Range per Carat 200 - 500 500 - 2000 2000-50,000


Several traders, deliberately or un-deliberately, sell off Citrine & Yellow Topaz as Yellow Sapphire. This could be lack of information and knowledge as well. Even some astrologers recommend Citrine or Yellow Topaz to start with in place of Yellow Sapphire for astrological benefits. But Citrine & Yellow Topaz cannot give same results of Yellow Sapphire. You must select stone as per your requirement, choice and budget.

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