KhyatiGems knowledge library
Yellow Sapphire
Yellow sapphire is a yellow variety of corundum, in the same mineral species as blue sapphire and ruby. It is a colour variety rather than an independent mineral species, and its name does not establish the treatment or origin of an individual specimen.
AI-assisted source review · 2026-10-16. No named gemologist review is claimed. How this reference was reviewed.
Billjones94 · CC0 · Source · CC0
Also known as: Pukhraj, पुखराज.
| Mineral species | Corundum |
|---|---|
| Mohs hardness | 9 |
| Refractive index (reference range) | 1.762–1.770 |
| Birefringence (reference range) | 0.008–0.010 |
| Specific gravity (reference value) | Approximately 4.00 |
| Chemical composition | Al₂O₃ |
Classification and appearance
Yellow belongs to the range of colours described for fancy sapphire. Assess the particular stone instead of relying on a colour name alone. Ask for photographs in consistent lighting and compare those images with the written description.
Traditional names can be helpful when searching, but they should resolve to an identified material. If a listing uses Pukhraj without a clear gemological identification, ask which material is actually being described. The trade or cultural name is not a substitute for testing the stone.
Treatments and disclosure
Ask for treatment disclosure that belongs to the actual specimen. Sapphire enhancement and care are connected subjects; a broad statement about sapphire cannot establish the condition of a particular yellow stone. Keep the seller’s explanation and laboratory wording distinct, and request clarification if one appears more specific than the other.
Identification and documentation
A name on a label is a starting point, not a laboratory conclusion. Ask whether the material has been identified as natural or laboratory grown, which treatments were detected, and which questions the examination actually addressed. Read the report for the individual stone rather than borrowing a conclusion from a similar-looking example.
Keep the report number, stone measurements and seller description together when discussing a purchase. If any of those details disagree, pause and ask for clarification. A reference photograph on this website is an educational example; it cannot establish the identity, treatment or geographic origin of a stone in another listing.
Care and cleaning
As corundum, sapphire rates 9 on the Mohs scale. A high hardness number should not be read as permission to use every cleaning method. Filled or dyed sapphire requires special care, and a setting may introduce additional cleaning restrictions. Ask for instructions that address both the stone and its disclosed condition.
Questions to ask before choosing a stone
Request clear photographs under more than one lighting condition and ask which image best represents the stone in ordinary use. Compare dimensions as well as weight, and ask about any treatment-related care requirements before deciding on a setting. These questions are useful even when the gemstone name is familiar.
Do not infer the terms of a sale from this educational article. Availability, a particular report, delivery and return conditions belong to the individual seller and purchase channel. Keep written answers with the relevant listing information so that your decision is based on the stone being offered.
Reading the property table
The optical and density values here are reference ranges from GIA, not measurements of a pictured specimen. A property table helps you understand the material being discussed; it is not a substitute for a laboratory examination. Results depend on the sample, instrument and method, and more than one observation may be needed to distinguish natural, synthetic and treated material. Ask for the conclusions of the examination rather than attempting to identify an unknown stone from one number.
Frequently asked questions
What is yellow sapphire?
Yellow sapphire is a yellow variety of the mineral corundum.
Is Pukhraj a mineral species?
Pukhraj is a traditional name used for yellow sapphire, not a separate mineral species.
Sources and further reading
- GIA — Sapphire description Checked 2026-10-16
- GIA — Sapphire care and cleaning Checked 2026-10-16
- GIA Yellow Sapphire reference properties Checked 2026-10-16