Possible for Citrines to Change Color?

[Jambalaya]

Hi,

I have a step-cut citrine ring whose stone has always been loose. When I held it by the ear and shook it a little, I could hear the stone rattling - so quite loose really. It's a bezel setting. I took it to a reputable local jeweler to have the stone made tight, and when it came back I swear the citrine had changed color.

Before, it was a light-ish tan color, I'd say cool tones. Now, it's really deep orange. It's much darker, and it seems to have those vibrant orange tones deep into the warmer end of the color spectrum. I don't think I'd have bought it at this color. Before, it was a cool champagne/tan/light brown with no orange.

It's been a few months since I had it done, and I vaguely noticed it at the time but I've just recently got the ring out to examine. I really think the color is different. Oddly, it looks like the same stone in terms of the facet pattern/steps.

Is it possible that the citrine darkened when exposed to heat during the re-setting?

Or, is it possible that the citrine looked lighter before because light was getting down the sides, and now it's tightly in the setting, the color looks different?

I'm really puzzled. The jeweler has been working with my family for years and why would they swap out a citrine anyway - mine is small and not very valuable. I have thoroughly cleaned it, so that's not the problem.

Would be very grateful for any insight into the behavior of citrines!

 

[Gypsy]

I would think maybe heat could do it.

 

[WinkHPD]

Hi,

I have a step-cut citrine ring whose stone has always been loose. When I held it by the ear and shook it a little, I could hear the stone rattling - so quite loose really. It's a bezel setting. I took it to a reputable local jeweler to have the stone made tight, and when it came back I swear the citrine had changed color.

Before, it was a light-ish tan color, I'd say cool tones. Now, it's really deep orange. It's much darker, and it seems to have those vibrant orange tones deep into the warmer end of the color spectrum. I don't think I'd have bought it at this color. Before, it was a cool champagne/tan/light brown with no orange.

It's been a few months since I had it done, and I vaguely noticed it at the time but I've just recently got the ring out to examine. I really think the color is different. Oddly, it looks like the same stone in terms of the facet pattern/steps.

Is it possible that the citrine darkened when exposed to heat during the re-setting?

Or, is it possible that the citrine looked lighter before because light was getting down the sides, and now it's tightly in the setting, the color looks different?

I'm really puzzled. The jeweler has been working with my family for years and why would they swap out a citrine anyway - mine is small and not very valuable. I have thoroughly cleaned it, so that's not the problem.

Would be very grateful for any insight into the behavior of citrines!

It is entirely possible that the color can change with any heat from the torch.

I once partnered with Richard Homer on some really incredible Uruguayan amethyst. One of the pieces was too dark a purple, so he stuck it in the oven to lighten the color. The door bell rang and he forgot the stone for several hours. We had a nice bright orange Citrine for sale for years...

Wink

 

[Jambalaya]

Thanks to both of you.

Wink, that's a very funny story. My stone is a much more violent orange now too! So the heat from a torch - in the length of time to work on the setting - would be enough? I wouldn't have thought it'd be hot enough to effect a change because I thought stones had to be heated really intensely all-round (like in an oven) for ages. But that's just my imagination - of course I know nothing about this stuff.

Anyway, it's still a nice stone. My elderly relative was very sweet about it and said he thinks it looks better. He said the old look was lighter and looked more like costume jewelry. It worked - I felt better about it after that! But it confirmed that it's not my imagination and it really does look different. I guess Pricescope has solved the mystery - it's the heat. Darn. I wish I'd known it was a possibility and I'd have asked them to take care with it.

 

[Karl_K]

Yes it is certainly possible for it to have changed color.
It can change colors at temperatures as low as 750 degrees.
http://www.minerals.net/gemstone/citrine_gemstone.aspx

 

[Jambalaya]

Thanks for all the replies. This has cleared up a real mystery for me. Whoever knew that the color of citrines was so unstable!

 

[partgypsy]

That means probably your stone was originally unheated, which is more rare.

But otoh I know many citrines are treated to intensify their color (mandarin citrine) of which I actually prefer.

 

[Jambalaya]

I forgot to say, thanks for your reply, part gyspy!

My citrine is only cheap so I expect it started out life as an amethyst, like most of the commercial citrine out there. I think untreated citrines are quite uncommon - but it's possible I guess.

Regardless, I'm now the proud owner of a deep orange stone, instead of a light tan one! It's too bad that I don't like the new color, but anyway, it's still a nice ring.

If anybody else is having a citrine piece worked on, I hope they'll see this thread and ask their jeweler to take care where they're waving that torch!

 

[VRBeauty]

That raises a question for the experts out there - would using a laser welder have prevented this color change?

 

[Karl_K]

That raises a question for the experts out there - would using a laser welder have prevented this color change?

yes if it was something that could have been done with a laser.