Heliodor is one of the varieties of the beryl mineral, the main difference being the specific color range - yellow with a greenish or brownish tint. The name of the stone has Greek roots, “hḗlios (ἥλιος)” (sun, east, day, sunshine) plus “dôron (δῶρον)” (gift). In turn, it means “gift of the sun God Helios”.
Description of heliodor:
Places of mining. Most of the heliodors for jewelry are now mined in Brazil, in the state of Minas Gerais. Good quality stone is mined in Namibia, as well as in Madagascar and the USA. On the world market, there are also excellent specimens from Volyn (Ukraine), which are especially popular in the form of collection-quality crystals, but they can also be found in the faceted form. In Russia, heliodors are mined together with aquamarines at Transbaikalia.
Colors:
Heliodor stones can be greenish-yellow, lemon, saturated green, orange (the most common color). Usually, the color of a stone is determined by the number of impurities it contains. For example, iron gives a mineral a greenish tint. Specimens containing radioactive uranium, when heated to 400 ° C, acquire a pale blue tone.
Jewelers love to use this beryl variety because of its hardness, luster, beauty, and affordable cost, starting at tens of dollars per carat for tawny pieces.
The following characteristics affect the price of a carat:
Color:
The most appreciated are faceted bright yellow heliodors without greenish and brownish tints; they are much less common on the market.
Weight:
On heliodor, the price per carat starts from $20. If the stone is large and of good quality, then it can cost up to $100.
Purity:
Heliodor, distinguished by its extraordinary purity and high quality of crystals, belongs to the number of precious stones, the value of which is comparable to the value of diamonds, rubies, and sapphires.
The presence of cracks reduces the price since heliodors are a type of natural gemstone that usually does not contain such defects.
How to distinguish a real heliodor stone from a fake
The high cost, as well as the similarity of heliodor with citrine and some types of quartz, which are less valuable, become the reason for making cheaper counterfeits on the market. Technologies have been developed to produce synthetic heliodors, which are no different from natural gems. Therefore, it is very easy to get a fake with a purchase today. Under the guise of a real gem, scammers offer not only these minerals but also aquamarine with a similar color, synthetic crystals, and even bottle glass. There are several ways to distinguish a real heliodor from a fake:
Examine the structure of the stone. In the depths of a real mineral, you can see subtle impurities of white color, while a fake stone has a clean and homogeneous structure.
Check the heliodor for hardness. A real mineral leaves a mark when you walk it over the glass. Also, you can try to scratch the surface of the stone to check the authenticity of the heliodor. In this case, a scratch will remain on the glass counterfeit, and the natural stone will not be damaged.
Pay attention to the stone’s price and the quality certificate. Natural gems have the property of changing color. If it is subjected to primary heat treatment, then it acquires an expensive blue hue. Repeated exposure to high temperatures leads to discoloration of the stone.
In order not to worry about the authenticity of the heliodor, you can turn to reliable sellers such as Gem Lovers. Our employees are ready to take a photo of a gem from any angle and send a full gemologist's report. And if you have not found the required heliodor on the site, we suggest using the service of selecting a stone to order.
