Yellow sapphire: canary vs lemon yellow? Wth?

[blingergrrrl]

What's the difference? What are the other descriptors and what do they mean? I'm used to blue sapphires but yellow is a whole new ballgame for me!

Thanks.

 

[userangl28212003]

I am no way an expert, and I'm not sure the real difference, in lemon yellow and canary yellow, but I know yellows can range from brownish, greenish, pure yellow, and golden usually means more orangey yellow. Canary yellow might be slight more warmish. Here are some pics of my unheated yellow sapphire that was described as pure lemon yellow. Hope this helps somewhat

 

[Seaglow]

It's really how a seller would describe it. I think canary is a pure, bright yellow hue and lemon can be a lighter shade. But a stone described as vivid lemon can be a canary as well?

I've heard descriptions such as amber yellow, honey, marigold, etc.

I have a yellow sapphire that actually changes hue depending on lighting. From canary, to, honey, to a greenish yellow. It was just sold to me simply as yellow. Lol.

 

[blingergrrrl]

Awesome, thanks guys! Sounds like it's even more subjective than blue sapphires...

 

[chrono]

Awesome, thanks guys! Sounds like it's even more subjective than blue sapphires...

This is why I don't like such descriptors. There is no standard for what is canary and what is lemon. Go for hue, tone and saturation.

Hue - pure yellow, slightly greenish yellow, etc
Tone - light, medium, etc
Saturation - light, medium, strong, etc.