The Gem of Jupiter

Yellow sapphire is corundum coloured by iron, ranging from pale straw to rich golden yellow. In Vedic tradition it is known as Pukhraj, one of the most widely sought Navratna gemstones.

Gemologically, yellow sapphire is described as transparent, with a vitreous luster — qualities that shape how it catches and carries light once cut. Its colour comes from iron, and a Mohs hardness in this range holds up well to daily wear, making it a practical choice for rings as well as earrings and pendants.

"Oriental Topaz" — Another Case of Mistaken Names

Yellow sapphire shares a quirk of history with several of corundum's colour varieties: for much of the 18th and 19th centuries, it was widely sold in the West as "Oriental Topaz" — a trade name that had nothing to do with actual topaz (a different mineral entirely) but was used to suggest an exotic, superior version of the more familiar yellow topaz. This kind of misleading "Oriental" naming was common across the gem trade of the period (similarly, green tourmaline was sometimes sold as "Oriental peridot"), and modern gemology has firmly retired these terms in favour of accurate species names. Sri Lanka, in particular, has a long history of producing fine yellow sapphire and was a major source of the material once marketed under these older, now-discredited names.

Where Yellow Sapphire Comes From

Pukhraj — Jupiter's Stone

In Indian Vedic astrology (Jyotish Shastra), yellow sapphire is known as Pukhraj and is associated with Guru (Jupiter).

How Yellow Sapphire Is Graded

Quality in yellow sapphire is generally assessed across colour, clarity, cut, and carat weight — with colour and overall character typically the dominant factors in value.

What a Lab Report Confirms

A lab report identifies the species, describes colour, and discloses any treatment. Heat treatment is common in yellow sapphire to improve or intensify colour — unheated stones, if available, typically carry a premium and should have lab documentation.

Natural, Ethical, Jaipur-Sourced

Every yellow sapphire in the Paraiso Jewels vault is described accurately as to its natural or treated status on its label. We source through Jaipur's gem market — one of the world's oldest and most concentrated coloured-stone trading centres — and our stones can be verified at GTL Jaipur, the region's principal gem testing authority.

On request, each piece can be accompanied by documentation covering weight, dimensions, and treatment status. If you have questions about the origin or treatment of a specific stone, contact us via WhatsApp or email and we'll provide full details.