November's Birthstone, Citrine

Citrine Bullet Cabochons

Citrine is one of two birthstones for November.  The word citrine stems from the French word for lemon, and citrine gemstones range in color from pale yellows to deep oranges.

Citrine is any quartz crystal or cluster that is yellow or orange in color.   Most citrines on the market have been heat treated.   Specimens of low grade, inexpensive amethyst or smoky quartz are often cooked at high temperatures to produce the more profitable orange yellow citrine.   This is because natural citrine is found only in large quartz deposits in small amounts.  Citrines whose colors have been produced by artificial means tend to have much more of an orange or reddish cast than those found in nature, which are usually a pale yellow. 

In many amethyst deposits, the amethyst has been partially or fully changed to a darker brown citrine due to naturally occurring high temperatures, thereby changing the amethyst into natural citrine.

Citrine is found most frequently in Brazil, Bolivia, and Spain.

Citrine Round Cabochons

Citrine is often confused with the more expensive orange-yellow topaz and is at times sold as topaz by unscrupulous dealers.  The finest citrine gemstones have a pure yellow color that cannot be duplicated by golden topaz, which will always have hues of orange or brown to darken the gem.

Known as the "healing quartz," this golden gemstone is said to support vitality, energy and health while encouraging and guiding hope, energy and warmth within the wearer.


Information shared from:  

Bernadine Fine Art Jewelry,  Amethyst Galleries, Inc. and The AmericanGemSociety