Dear All,
In light of the current discussion on green colored quartz, I’m
wondering where this material called lemon quartz falls into the
mix. For anyone unfamiliar, it is a very bright greenish yellow
color. I’ve been told it is irradiated quartz. Does anyone know for
sure about this material? What color does it start out?
Thanks.
Brenda
Nesheim Fuller Design
Mason City, Iowa
Hi,
I bought some of the lemon quartz the year before last from the
singularly likeable Brazilian pegmatite mining family that digs and
markets it. The told me that it starts out clear, that it is
irradiated, that most clear quartz will not respond to this treatment
but the material from that particular mine does.
Cheers,
Hans Durstling
Moncton, Canada
I think we should call it lemon amethyst and let’s just go ahead and
call red corundum red sapphire and that light yellow beryl it would
be a lot easier to just say golden aquamarine. We have let the
marketing people take over our industry with their gimmicks. Mostly
from QVC, and the cruise lines. If you want to see what is going to
be the next hottest stone go on a cruise. I started seeing the
rainbow topaz from customers coming back from cruises before it was
on the market here. One of the jewelry mags a few months ago did an
how to article on a granulation project. They showed how to tack weld
the gold beads in place, is that granulation or just welding balls on
a piece. We wonder why our customers are so confused and leary of
jewelers.
Ouch, I just fell off my soapbox, I guess its time to go to work.
Bill Wismar
www.wismargallery.com
Hi Brenda,
I see you’re in Mason City! I’m over in the Quad Cities!
The lemon quartz name is used for medium yellow citrine,
lemon-colored. That material is derived from heating some amethyst.
Not all will turn lemon yellow.
HOWEVER, the name is also used to describe the greenish-yellow
quartz which is derived from irradiating and subsequently heat
treating quartz from certain areas. Unfortunately, these names get
thrown around with abandon, and, as a cutter, I’ve given up the
fight on correct nomenclature. When my customers ask for a custom
faceted lemon quartz, I say “Do you mean THIS color?” and just go
from there.
Wayne, go Hawkeyes!
In light of the current discussion on green colored quartz, I'm wondering where this material called lemon quartz falls into the mix. For anyone unfamiliar, it is a very bright greenish yellow color. I've been told it is irradiated quartz. Does anyone know for sure about this material? What color does it start out?
Oh oh. I thought this was the same as citrine. Which one is more
expensive? Perhaps I have made the mistake of wholeheartedly
believing what the salespeople at gem showrooms that I trust and have
good relationships with tell me. I am trying and buying books and
trying to educate myself…Please no one throw tomotoes at me! : - )
Dancing as fast as I can,
Annabel
P.S. Not to throw another stone in the mix, but I have noticed that
some lemon quartz, citrine and yellow topaz (at least these are the
names given to some stones I have seen at NY gem dealers) look
verrrrrrrry similar.
I thought this was the same as citrine. Which one is more expensive? Perhaps I have made the mistake of wholeheartedly believing what the salespeople at gem showrooms that I trust and have good relationships with tell me. I am trying and buying books and trying to educate myself...Please no one throw tomotoes at me!
I’d never throw a tomato at anyone, I like to eat them far too much
to waste. How about I toss a few Brussels sprouts instead? 
But seriously, citrine is quartz, so lemon quartz is just
irradiated/heated quartz that falls into a narrow range of hue, tone
and saturation. IT’s my personal opinion and observation that most
quartz varieties sell at gem shows for $5 - $10 per carat. Anything
priced higher than that, I pass…unless it is a very spectacular
cut/make/finish.
Not to throw another stone in the mix, but I have noticed that some lemon quartz, citrine and yellow topaz (at least these are the names given to some stones I have seen at NY gem dealers) look verrrrrrrry similar.
That’s certainly possible. And I don’t want to go over the whole
quartz vs. topaz thing again, as I was just interrupted in posting
this by a customer who wanted a valuation on her recently inherited
smoky “topaz.” Quartz and topaz are two vastly different stones.
James S. Duncan, G.G.
James in SoFL