Citrine Faceting Information

This is a source of information on tips and guides for Citrine faceting. A Citrine is a yellowish - yellow gold or yellow green variety of a Quartz.

Home Learning Center Jewelry and Lapidary Cutting Information for Specific GemstonesCitrine Faceting Information

By Jeff R. Graham

Citrine Faceting Information

Citrine (Quartz)

Color: Orange, orange/red, yellow, gold, brown/orange
Moh's Hardness: 7
Refractive Index: 1.544-1.553
Critical Angle: 40.49°
Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.65
Cleavage: None
Fracture: Conchoidal
Dispersion: .013
Heat Sensitivity: Can be… but is usually not a problem
Dichroism: very weak
Birefringence (double refraction): Weak (.009)
Crystal structure: Hexagonal

Treatments: Often heated from Amethyst.

What I prefer to polishing with: Cerium oxide with a Spectra Ultralap.

Jeff's Comments: Cuts and polishes like any other Quartz, usually no problems. I like to use a 1200 Nu Bond lap for pre-polish, it makes the polishing stage faster and easier.

Design Notes: About any Quartz design will work well. As the rough gets more saturated, I prefer checker boards and bar cuts.

Design Links: 4-Way Stop - This is great for saturated rough if you have a piece that will work in the shape.
Be Still My Heart - Good in about any Quartz
CheckMate - Neat in medium color Quartz
Light House - Nice in any Quartz
Utopia - Classic Barion pear

Jeff R. Graham

The late Jeff Graham was a prolific faceter, creator of many original faceting designs, and the author of several highly-regarded instructional faceting books such as Gram Faceting Designs.

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Golden orange pear-cut citrine</a>, 19.05 cts, 22.9 x 16.5 x 11 mm. Photo © <a href=https://www.gemsociety.org/article/citrine-faceting-information/"https://www.joelarem.com">Joel E. Arem</a>, PhD, FGA. Used with permission." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="responsive" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:cover;object-position:50% 50%"/>

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Photo courtesy of <a href=https://www.gemsociety.org/article/citrine-faceting-information/"https://www.liveauctioneers.com/">liveauctioneers.com and <a href=https://www.gemsociety.org/article/citrine-faceting-information/"https://www.liveauctioneers.com/auctioneer/1081/eros-auctions-inc/">Eros Auctions, Inc</a>." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="responsive" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:cover;object-position:50% 50%"/>

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Citrine Faceting Information