Celebrate the vibrant red, orange, and yellow colors of fall with citrine. Perfect for people born in November, this birthstone’s warm shades are sure to put you in the cozy autumn spirit. Here are our top 8 facts about November’s birthstone.
1. This gemstone is a type of quartz that’s yellow-orange in color.2
The strength of a citrine gemstone’s yellow hue is determined by how much iron exists within its structure.2
2. While this gemstone is found in nature, it can also be produced by heating amethyst and smoky quartz.1,2,3,4
If an amethyst is heated to the point where it changes color from purple to yellow-orange, it becomes citrine. In fact, it’s difficult to find this gemstone in nature, so a lot of citrine sold around the world is heated amethyst and smoky quartz.1,2,3,4
3. This gemstone scores a 7 out of 10 on the Mohs hardness scale.5
This gemstone is fairly resistant to damage, but you should still be cautious with your citrine jewelry to avoid scratching or breaking the stone.
4. You can clean your citrines at home using mild soap and warm water.
If you want to clean this gemstone at home, we recommend using warm water and mild dish soap. Gently scrub your citrines with a soft toothbrush in soapy water. You can also clean citrines in an Ultrasonic cleaner, however it’s best not to clean them with a steamer.
5. This gemstone is traditionally given as a 13th wedding anniversary gift.1
Looking for a 13th wedding anniversary gift? We suggest citrine!
6. This gemstone resides in a variety of countries around the world.
Citrine mines operate in countries like Brazil, Bolivia, Spain, Madagascar, and Mexico, among other locations. In the United States, Colorado, North Carolina, and California mine this gemstone.4,5
7. Topaz is November’s alternative birthstone.
Citrine isn’t the only birthstone for the month of November; topaz is this month’s second birthstone.
You can find topaz in a variety of colors, including blue (which is actually December’s birthstone), orange, red, pink, and brown.4,5
Like citrine, the safest way to clean your topaz jewelry at home is with warm, soapy water and a soft toothbrush.
Shop Citrine Jewelry at Necker’s Jewelers
We have a large selection of this gemstone at our locations in DeWitt and Davenport, IA, and on our website.
Sources
1. Citrine Gemstone | Natural Citrine Stone – GIA
2. Citrine Value, Price, and Jewelry Information – International Gem Society
3. November’s Birthstone: Citrine Gem Overview Info | Citrine Birthstone (americangemsociety.org)
4. November Birthstones | Topaz & Citrine Birthstone Information | GIA
5. Overview of the Topaz Gemstone | November Birthstone (americangemsociety.org)
