Pukhraj: Yellow Sapphires
Yellow sapphire, known across Pakistan as Pukhraj, ranges from pale lemon to rich golden yellow and is cut from the same tough corundum as Neelam.
Stones
Pukhraj is yellow corundum. It shares its hardness and its chemistry with blue sapphire and ruby, so it is one of the few yellow gems that can take years of daily wear without its edges going soft.
The name causes confusion in the market. Yellow topaz and citrine are sometimes sold as "Pukhraj", and they are pleasant stones, but they are not sapphire and should cost far less. Every stone in this collection is listed as yellow sapphire, and its treatment status sits on its own page.
Choosing a yellow sapphire
A clear canary or golden yellow with no brown or green tint is the classic preference. Paler lemon stones are lovely in a white gold setting and cost less per carat. Tilt the stone: a good cut throws light back evenly, with no washed-out patch in the middle. Heating to deepen yellow is common and stable. Beryllium diffusion, which pushes strong orange-yellow colour into the stone, is a separate treatment and worth asking about on vivid, low-priced pieces.
Tradition in Pakistan ties Pukhraj to Jupiter, and it is usually worn on the index finger, often set in gold so the metal warms the colour. Many buyers choose a weight given to them by an elder. That is a custom we respect, not a promise we make.
At 9 on the hardness scale, a yellow sapphire suits open claws or a bezel. Keep it apart from diamonds in a jewellery box, since a diamond can scratch it. A soft toothbrush and mild soap restore its shine.