Birthstone: November

Mineral:  Quartz

Color(s): Pale yellow, dark amber, orange, reddish orange

Hardness (Moh's): 7.5

Treatment(s): Heat

Citrine

Before modern gemology, citrine was often confused with topaz, for its naturally tawny, often amber color. Getting its name from the French word “citron”, meaning lemon, citrine is one of the rarer forms of quartz and is sought after for its clarity, durability and elegant golden hue.

Among yellow gemstones, citrine remains a popular choice among gemstone enthusiasts since it is affordably priced, even for larger gems. The official birthstone for November, citrine saw a rise in popularity during the Romantic period since it perfectly complemented gold jewelry.

Origin

Most of the world’s citrine supply is mined from Brazil. Smaller deposits can also be found in Russia, Myanmar, USA, Madagascar, Bolivia, Canada, and Spain.

Did you know?

- Citrines witnessed a demand in retro, post-World War I pieces. Large citrines were set in Art Deco inspired jewelry pieces for Hollywood actresses Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford.

- Citrine was called the “stone of success” in Chinese legends. It was favored by ancient Chinese emperors who believed the stone promoted intellectual capabilities.

- Famous Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie donated an iconic yellow citrine necklace from the Style of Jolie jewelry collection to the Smithsonian’s National Gem Collection. This 18-carat yellow gold necklace contains cushion cut 64 bezels citrine gem set along with a pear-shaped citrine drop.