Citrine

Citrine is a yellow-to-orange variety of quartz, the same mineral family as clear rock crystal, amethyst and smoky quartz. Traces of iron within its crystal structure are responsible for its warm colour.

Its name comes from the French citron, meaning lemon, although its colours reach well beyond pale yellow into honey, golden amber and reddish orange. Most faceted citrine is beautifully transparent, allowing the cut to bring out flashes of light and depth of colour. It's a gemstone that gives jewellers plenty of freedom to experiment with shape, proportion and design.

Naturally yellow citrine is relatively uncommon. Much of the citrine found in jewellery begins as amethyst, the purple variety of quartz. When heated, certain amethyst crystals change colour, producing shades of yellow, gold and rich reddish orange.

Amethyst and citrine belong to the same quartz family. The heating process changes the colour, but the gemstone remains quartz. It's a fascinating connection between two stones that, at first glance, look completely different.

For centuries, golden gemstones were frequently mistaken for topaz. Citrine was even sold under names such as Madeira topaz, gold topaz and Spanish topaz. Despite their similar appearance, the two are entirely different minerals. Citrine belongs to the quartz family, while topaz has its own distinct crystal structure.

Topaz is harder, ranking 8 on the Mohs scale compared with citrine's 7, although it can be more vulnerable to splitting along natural planes within the crystal. Both gemstones now share the title of November birthstone. If you've inherited a golden gemstone described as topaz, it's worth having a jeweller examine it. Colour alone isn't enough to tell the two apart.

Brazil is one of the world's major sources of citrine, particularly the amethyst that is heated to produce golden quartz. The gem-rich regions of Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul are especially well known. Citrine is also found in Bolivia, Madagascar and parts of Africa.

Bolivia has a particularly interesting connection to the gemstone. At the Anahí mine, purple amethyst and golden citrine can occur naturally within the same crystal. The result is ametrine, a gemstone that displays two colours in one piece of quartz. You can see that beautiful contrast in our emerald-cut ametrine pendant .

Citrine has long been associated with warmth, happiness and good fortune. Historically, it was believed to calm tempers and encourage a peaceful mind. Its golden colour also gave rise to associations with prosperity, earning it the nickname the merchant's stone.

These beliefs have become part of the gemstone's folklore, adding another layer to its appeal. Today, citrine shares November's birthstone title with topaz and is traditionally given to celebrate a thirteenth wedding anniversary.

Citrine sits at 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it suitable for many types of jewellery, including rings. It's reasonably resistant to everyday wear, although it's not as hard as gemstones such as sapphire or diamond.

Over time, regular contact with harder materials can leave fine scratches, and a sharp knock may chip the stone. The type of jewellery and its setting make a difference to how well citrine wears over the years.