0.40 Ct. Madeira (Reddish Orange) Citrine from Brazil

This citrine offered by The Natural Gemstone Company is a transparent 0.40 carat oval, with dimensions 5.96 by 4.02 by 2.71 millimeters, exhibiting a length to width ratio of approximately 1.48, and an average depth of approximately 54 percent relative to the average of the length and width. The stone has been fashioned in a mixed brilliant cut, combining a brilliant styled crown with a modified pavilion faceting scheme, optimized to balance scintillation and depth of tone in a richly saturated material. Clarity has been graded as eye clean during standard gemological examination at normal viewing distance, and the polish has been assessed as excellent with crisp facet junctions and consistently executed facet planes. The origin is recorded as Brazil, and the piece has undergone controlled heat treatment to develop the classic Madeira reddish orange hue, a treatment consistent with established trade practice for enhancing citrine color stability.

Color in this specimen is a defining attribute, noted as intense in color intensity, with a dominant reddish orange hue that sits within the Madeira color category. The tone reads as medium to slightly deep, providing strong saturation while avoiding excessive opacity, thus allowing internal light transmission and lively face up presentation. Under directional lighting the mixed brilliant scheme reveals complex interplay between pavilion reflections and crown scintillation, producing flashes that emphasize warmer red orange facets and cooler golden facets, a result of slight color zoning typically found in natural quartz matrices. Pleochroism in citrine is minimal to negligible, therefore the perceived hue is stable across viewing angles, however slight variations in hue can be observed due to facet orientation and internal zoning, which contributes to the gemological individuality of this stone.

Although the gem is eye clean, inclusions are present at microscopic magnification and serve as unique internal signatures, adding provenance and character rather than detracting from visual appeal. Typical inclusions present in natural citrine and expected upon magnified inspection include fine needle like tubes, minute crystalline pinpoints, healed fissures displaying partial recrystallization, and faint growth zoning parallel to crystallographic planes, all of which are consistent with natural formation in Brazilian pegmatitic and hydrothermal environments. Liquid inclusions and two phase features may also be evident in some fields of view, indicating trapped fluids during growth that act as natural fingerprint markers. These inclusion features allow experienced gemologists to distinguish natural, heat treated citrine from synthetic analogues and simulates, and they provide traceable microscopic patterns that are catalogable for identification and appraisal purposes.

From a cutting and finishing perspective, the mixed brilliant execution on this oval is purposeful, designed to enhance the intense Madeira color while preserving transparency and maximizing even light return. The crown facet layout follows a modified brilliant schema with a preferential table to crown height ratio that maintains strong scintillation without sacrificing the depth that the reddish orange tone requires to appear rich and saturated. The pavilion has been faceted to control internal reflection pathways, minimizing windowing and ensuring that the stone presents even color when set in typical jewelry orientations. Girdle treatment is consistent and appropriate to the size, with a thin to medium profile and careful polishing to avoid stress concentrations during setting. Edge symmetry is good, and the faceting pattern demonstrates experienced lapidary technique, with tight facet junctions and uniform facet angles that contribute to the excellent polish rating. For buyers and designers who value documented provenance, natural inclusion structures and precise faceting geometry work together to produce a durable, visually compelling collector grade citrine, ready to be integrated into fine jewelry settings where the stone can be appreciated both for its intense Madeira color and its verifiable natural character.