Yellow Beads

Frequently asked questions

• What yellow gemstone beads do you carry?

  Citrine dominates the yellow collection by volume; Yellow Opal and Amber cover the softer warm-yellow range. Honey-toned Tiger Eye sits at the boundary with brown. Yellow Jasper, Pietersite, and Crazy Lace Agate add specialty and patterned material. Mookaite provides the deeper mustard-yellow tones.
• Is citrine heat-treated amethyst?

  Yes, in the majority of commercial cases. Most citrine on the market is heat-treated amethyst — heating natural purple amethyst above ~470 °C drives an iron-oxidation change that produces yellow-to-orange color. Natural unheated citrine exists but is scarce and typically pale. Heat-treated citrine is color-stable and not considered inferior to natural in design use, but the distinction should be disclosed.
• Is amber a real gemstone?

  Amber is fossilized tree resin, typically 30–90 million years old, technically an organic gem rather than a mineral. It's lightweight (specific gravity 1.05–1.10, less than glass), warm to the touch, and softens at low temperature — practical tests to distinguish real amber from copal (younger resin), plastic, or pressed amber. Baltic amber is the dominant commercial source; Dominican and Mexican ambers are scarcer.
• Which yellow gemstones are birthstones?

  November birthstones include Citrine (the modern primary) and Topaz, both of which appear in strong yellow ranges. Amber serves as a traditional alternative birthstone in some lists but is not on the modern Jewelers of America roster.
• Do yellow gemstones fade in sunlight?

  Some do. Amethyst and citrine can fade with prolonged direct sunlight exposure (months to years). Amber is generally light-stable but can darken slightly over decades. Yellow Opal can lose color if exposed to dehydration. For everyday wear, fading is rarely an issue; for stored or displayed pieces, keep yellow gemstones out of direct sun and away from heat sources.