November birthdays come with two official birthstones: topaz and citrine. This post is for citrine. It is the transparent yellow to brownish orange variety of quartz, colored by a trace of iron, and it has been used in jewelry for thousands of years.

Vincent's Citrine Video

Vincent's new citrine video opens with a line of his: “Golden hour, but make it a gemstone.” Watch it below, then come see the real pieces in Elmwood Park.

Why Is Citrine a November Birthstone?

The Gemological Institute of America lists citrine, along with topaz, as a November birthstone. The name is generally believed to come from the French word for lemon, citron, which tells you what early admirers noticed first: that unmistakable yellow.

Citrine and topaz have a long history of being mistaken for one another. Before modern gemology, citrine's tawny color was often confused with topaz, and citrine inherited some of the same folklore. People once believed it could soothe tempers and calm the wearer. Today both November birthstones are still associated with warmth and good fortune. We treat that as history and tradition, not a promise.

Citrine has been reported in Roman jewelry and was especially popular in colorful Scottish jewelry of the Victorian era. It is also the gem traditionally given for the thirteenth wedding anniversary.

A Color Made for Late Autumn

Citrine's color runs from pale yellow through saturated yellow, orangy yellow, orange, and reddish orange. In today's market, many people gravitate toward deeper, earthy brownish or reddish orange tones. Gemologically, the most prized colors are a saturated yellow to reddish orange with little or no brown.

That range is part of why citrine suits November so well. The month already has a golden hour of its own. A citrine in yellow gold keeps that warmth close, whether you wear it on a gray afternoon or to a birthday dinner.

An Honest Word About Heat Treatment

Natural citrine is rare. Most citrine on the market is the result of heat-treating amethyst, a widely accepted process that turns purple quartz golden.

That does not make the gem an imitation. It is still quartz. The color is generally stable in ordinary wear, though citrine should be kept from prolonged intense light and sudden temperature changes. When you are choosing a piece, the useful question is not whether treatment exists in the market. It is knowing what you are looking at. We are happy to go through a stone with you in the store.

Is Citrine Durable Enough for Everyday Jewelry?

Citrine rates 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness and has good toughness, so it is suitable for rings, earrings, pendants, and other jewelry you actually intend to wear.

Hardness is not the whole story. Everyday dust and sand are also quartz, which means citrine can be scratched by materials in its own family. It is a durable gem, with a little common sense.

How to Care for Citrine

• Clean it with warm, soapy water and a soft brush.
• Ultrasonic cleaning is usually safe, except in the uncommon case of a dyed or fracture-filled stone.
• Skip steam cleaning. Citrine should not be subjected to high heat.
• Avoid abrupt temperature changes, which can cause the stone to fracture.
• Some citrine color can fade with prolonged exposure to intense light, so do not leave it in a sunny window.
• If you are unsure how a piece was treated, bring it to us rather than experimenting at home.

Citrine Jewelry in Stock Now

We currently have three citrine pieces in stock at the Elmwood Park showroom, all in 18K yellow gold. Yellow gold and citrine are a natural pairing: the metal lets the stone keep its warmth instead of cooling it down.

18K Yellow Gold Step Cut Pear Citrine Ring with Diamond Halo

A 0.90 ct step-cut pear orange citrine, set in 18K yellow gold and framed by a halo of round brilliant diamonds totaling 0.30 ct tw. It has the presence of a right-hand or cocktail ring.

See the ring · Style # 001-200-00468

18K Yellow Gold Dangle Citrine Earrings

Two pear citrines totaling 5.04 ct, set as dangles in 18K yellow gold, with pavé-set round brilliant diamonds totaling 0.55 ct tw. The earrings measure 30 mm long and 9.5 mm wide: enough movement to catch the light, still easy to wear to dinner.

See the earrings · Style # 001-250-00035

18K Yellow Gold Pear Citrine Pendant with Diamond Halo

A 2.69 ct step-cut pear citrine with a 0.26 ct natural diamond halo, plus four round bezel-set diamonds on an 18-inch adjustable cable-link chain, all in 18K yellow gold. It is the piece you can put on in the morning and still be happy with at night.

See the pendant · Style # 001-235-00088

How to Wear Citrine

Citrine is at its best when the cut is allowed to do the work. A step-cut pear, like the ones on the ring and pendant above, shows the color in broad, even planes. A halo of diamonds gives that color a bright edge without competing with it.

A few ways to wear what we have in the case:

• The pear ring on its own, or beside a slim gold band you already love.
• The dangle earrings with an open neckline, or with hair pulled back so the pears can actually be seen.
• The halo pendant over a crew neck, a collar, or a simple gold chain you already wear.
• All three together for a November birthday.

Photographs get you close. Citrine is still a stone you want to see in person, especially in mixed indoor light.

Gift Ideas for November Birthdays

Citrine jewelry makes a natural gift for a November birthday, and it is also the traditional choice for a thirteenth anniversary. A ring, a pair of earrings, or a pendant is easy to wrap and easier to wear. If the person already has yellow gold, citrine will sit comfortably next to it.

If you are shopping for yourself, you do not need a better reason than a birthstone that looks like late-afternoon light.

Already have a citrine, or a piece of jewelry that has been sitting in a box? Bring it with you. Sometimes the right November project is not a new purchase at all. It may be redesigning an inherited stone into something you will actually wear. For custom or heirloom work, book a Custom Fine Jewelry Consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Citrine

A Final Word on Citrine

November does not ask for a quiet gem. It asks for one that can hold a little sunlight.

Citrine has been doing that for a very long time: in Roman jewelry, in Victorian color, and in the yellow gold pieces we have in the case right now. It is beautiful, wearable, and distinctive enough to become the jewelry someone actually reaches for.

And if you were lucky enough to be born in November?

You have an excellent excuse.