Birthstone November – Citrine

Citrine was adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912 as the birthstone for November and is also the birth stone for the Zodiac signs of Virgo. Citrine is also recognized as the gem for a 13th and 17th wedding anniversaries.

Stone Information

Citrine is the yellow variety of quartz and can range in colors from yellow, yellow-brown, orange, dark orange-brown to reddish-brown. Citrine crystals can occur as hexagonal crystals, occasionally intergrown with amethyst to form a bi-colored quartz called ametrine.
Much of the citrine that is available on the market today is heat-treated amethyst. Natural citrine is pale yellow to pale orange, much lighter than the heat-treated material which is dark orange-brown to reddish-brown. Citrine is a 7.0 on the Mohs scale of hardness

Natural citrine can be found in Brazil, the Ural Mountains of Russia, France, Australia and in Madagascar. Darker colors are considered more valuable, including the medium golden orange and dark sherry-colors. Citrine can be mistaken for the more expensive orangish-yellow topaz.

Folklore, Legend and Healing Properties

Citrine has long been regarded as the stone for prosperity and wealth and is also believed to help the heart, kidney, digestive tract, liver and muscles. Citrine is also said to promote creativity and help personal clarity.