Citrine is often lovingly called ‘quartz topaz' because of its yellow, amber and orange-brown hues.

This transparent kind of quartz is a lovely and very affordable gem-type that can be found in almost all sizes and weights. It makes for very striking jewelry, and the pale colors allow light to filter through clearly. This is a much-seen gem in the market, but sadly it is also the most likely to be used fraudulently. Misrepresented as yellow topaz (which is termed either ‘precious' topaz or ‘imperial' topaz), citrine is often substituted for the authentic gem. There is a markable difference, however, between real yellow topaz and simple citrine. Citrine does not sparkle like topaz and it doesn't hold complex undertones of color. The color will be consistent through the stone and will hardly show any real brilliance. Real, ‘precious' topaz will show great brilliance and hold very subtle variations of hues that deepen the color enormously. Consider all the gems tagged ‘precious' or ‘imperial' topaz to be citrine, and if you purchasing yellow topaz, have the store detail the specific type on the receipt and send it for testing. Citrine prices range from $10-$70 per carat for gems less than 5 carat weight and about $20-$100 per carat for larger stones weighing between 5 and 25 carats.