How Clarity Affects the Value of Citrine
As with most gemstones, the clearer the citrine is, the more valuable it is. Clarity is determined by how many inclusions or internal imperfections there are within the stone. Very poor clarity can diminish the amount of light we see reflected back to us. In citrine, perfectly clear peices are not rare, so there is no reason to settle for less.
Here are some illustrations of how different levels of clarity appear in citrine:
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| Terrible Clarity: This citrine has so many inclusions and fractures, we cannot see through it at all. This is an example of the poorest clarity available. For this reason, it has been cut en cabochon instead of faceted. | Poor Clarity: These citrine beads have many large inclusions as well as a general “milky” appearance. For this reason, the stones have been made into beads instead of being faceted. | Ok Clarity: This citrine has no noticable large inclusions. There are several tiny inclusions in this stone that give it a hazy look inside instead of being perfectly clear. If this stone had had perfect clarity, it would have been faceted instead of cut en cabochon. | Perfect Clarity: Here is an example of a perfectly clear citrine. We can see all the way into the stone: there is no “haziness” nor visible inclusions. Good clarity allows the stone to be faceted: maximizing reflected light and sparkle. |
One more note about clarity: a perfectly clear citrine will always be faceted, and never be made into a bead or a cabochon. (For more info on different ways of cutting gemstones, see general gemstone information). As a rule, only the highest quality gems are faceted.