Citrine Round Cabochon · 4 mm

4 mm round citrine cabochon with mirror finish. Yellow-golden quartz for small settings and micro-pavé in 925 silver. Micro format ideal for multi-piece rings, stone-set hoops, stud earrings, and pendants with a warm golden central detail.

Piece Details

This specific piece

At 4 mm, the round citrine is the standard reference format for micro-pavé in silver jewelry: it is used in rings with a pavé border, hoops with a stone channel, pendants with a color detail, and stud earrings with a single central stone. The yellow-golden tone of citrine contrasts especially with bright silver and creates a luminous effect that cannot be achieved with synthetic yellows or yellow glass beads, whose yellow tends more towards lemon or amber. At this scale, the total internal reflection of quartz makes the stone appear lit from within with warm light.

How the yellow color of citrine is formed

Citrine is quartz (SiO₂) whose yellow color is attributed to the presence of trace amounts of iron (Fe³⁺) in the crystal lattice. The exact mechanism is charge transfer between Fe³⁺ and lattice vacancies: absorption in the blue-violet range allows yellow-orange to pass through. In nature, genuine citrine is relatively scarce; most commercial "citrine" —especially very intense, orange, or "Madeira" toned— is amethyst or smoky quartz subjected to heat treatment (200-400 °C), which modifies the iron in the lattice and changes the color from violet to yellow. Pale color varieties (soft lemon yellow) are more frequently untreated citrine. Treated and natural citrine have identical physical properties; the distinction is gemological, not lapidary.

For which setting it works

• Micro-pavé and channel in 925 silver — 4 mm is the standard size for pavé.
• Rings with color detail / Solitaire stud earrings — In a ring, 4 mm on 925 silver creates a.
• Pendants with central detail — A 4 mm citrine in the center of a pendant.

Citrine in history and jewelry

Yellow quartz has been called "citrine" since the 17th century (from the Latin citrus, lemon), although it was confused with topaz for centuries —hence the name "Spanish topaz" or "river topaz" that persists in some markets. In 18th-19th century Scottish and Celtic goldsmithing, native citrine (from the rivers of the Highlands) was used as an alternative to topaz in tartan-style jewelry. Mass production of "citrine" by treating amethyst began in Brazil in the 20th century and democratized access to warm-toned quartz at affordable prices.

In crystal tradition, citrine is associated with abundance and mental clarity. It is considered the stone of manifestation and positive thinking, symbolically linked to the sun and active creative energy.

The symbolic properties attributed to minerals belong to cultural and historical traditions. They are shared for educational purposes, not as medical advice.

How to recognize genuine citrine

Natural citrine usually has a uniform pale yellow to honey-yellow color. Intense orange or "Madeira" (dark amber) tones almost always correspond to treated amethyst. Imitations in yellow glass or resin lack the hardness 7 of quartz: a steel key (Mohs ~6.5) does not scratch quartz but does scratch soft glass and most resins. Under magnification, quartz occasionally shows veils of liquid inclusions or internal fissures; glass is perfectly clean and may have microbubbles.

Frequently asked questions

Is it natural or treated citrine?

No detectable treatment. Statement based on lapidary observation; the piece does not include formal gemological certification.

Are the dimensions exact for 4 mm settings?

The diameter is 4 mm with a tolerance of ±0.3 mm, suitable for micro bezel settings and channels designed for stones.

Is it sold by unit or by lot?

Please refer to the product variant description to see the available sales format (unit or lot).