Heliodor

Heliodor is a yellow variety of Beryl and is named after Helios, the Greek Sun God. With it's pale to golden yellow color it can resemble the sun and  shine in jewelry as a true hidden gem. Some even believe that Heliodor can bring success, abundance and prosperity. Whether you believe in it's properties or not, it's a beautiful and underrated stone.

Heliodor 101

Heliodor is a variety of Beryl, the same mineral as emerald or aquamarine. Some sellers may be tempted to brand it as "yellow emerald" but this term is inaccurate and misleading. Heliodor is also referred to as golden Beryl or simply yellow Beryl but any gem-quality, golden to yellow Beryl qualifies as a Heliodor. The yellow hue of Heliodors is due to the presence of iron. Similarly to emeralds, which are also Beryls, Heliodors can have many inclusions but the most valuable ones will have high clarity and an intense color.

The gemstone is mined in many places around the globe with deposits in Ukraine, Brazil, Madagascar, Namibia, Mozambique, Tanzania, and even some parts of the US (Connecticut).

Is Heliodor rare?

Heliodor isn’t as popular as other Beryl varieties like aquamarine or emerald. This is largely due to a limited supply of the gemstone: it's one of the rarer Beryl varieties, with much lower output of gem-quality stones. With a stone this hard to come by, it's not surprising that you rarely see jewelry with Heliodors as they simply aren't a great stone for mass production. But for a special one of a kind piece, they are absolutely perfect!

What should I know before buying Heliodor jewelry?

Heliodor is durable and a good jewelry stone. With a hardness of 7.5 - 8 on the Mohs scale it's a pretty hard stone but it's crystal structure makes it somewhat brittle when exposed to mechanical impact. That's why Heliodors need to be cared for in a similar way as emerald, to avoid chips. Some ways to protect your Heliodor jewelry are:

• Storing it in a jewelry box, where it isn't rubbing on any other gems
• Avoiding exposure to harsh chemicals
• Never putting Heliodors in an ultrasonic cleaner and use a soft cloth to clean them
• Always removing your Heliodor jewelry when working out

If you want to add a piece of Heliodor jewelry to your collection, our You Are My Sunshine pendant and ring are the perfect start!