Citrine

Citrine is the birthstone for November.

Citrine’s is a variety of quartz. Its attractive colour, durability and affordability make it the most popular and frequently purchased yellow to orange gem. The term citrine was derived from the old French term “citrin” meaning “lemon-colored”.

It was popular in Ancient Greece and loved by Queen Victoria.

Physical Characteristics

Citrine has a hardness of 7 on the Moh’s scale.

COLOUR

Colour ranges from very pale brownish yellow shades to intense reddish orange hues though the most popular shade is an earthy, deep, brownish or reddish orange. Citrine is rare in nature and most citrine on the market is heat treated amethyst. It is sometimes confused with yellow topaz.

CLARITY

Much of the faceted citrine in the market is eye-clean, meaning it lacks eye-visible inclusions and any inclusions will decrease its value.

CUT

Citrine crystals occur in a wide range of sizes and price per carat does not rise dramatically for larger sizes. Citrine can be carved, custom-cut, or calibrated for jewelry use. Included citrine is cut as cabochons.
Spiritual & Health Benefits

Citrine is believed to channel the power of the sun and all its positive aspects. It can be used to awaken the solar plexus chakra, helping to cultivate confidence and personal power. As such it is associated with optimism, happiness, and prosperity.

Citrine stimulates digestion, the spleen, and the pancreas. It helps eye problems, increases blood circulation, and activates the thymus. It has a warming effect and fortifies the nerves. It also relieves constipation and supposedly aids in removing cellulite.
Care

Like many gemstones, citrine can be damaged by sharp contact or harsh chemicals. Also, regular wear can build up dust particles, and over exposure to sunlight can result in color fade. Extreme temperature changes may result in cracking or fracturing of the stone. * Do not expose citrine to X-Rays because the stone will turn dark brown.
* Keep away from harsh oils, bleach, hairsprays, acidic perfumes, cleaning detergents or any chemicals. This may cause the stone to look dull. It’s best to wear your Jewellery as the last step when getting ready.
Other Yellow/ Orange Gems

Other yellow gems include golden beryl, yellow topaz and sapphire. Other orange gems include amber, carnelian, coral, mandarin garnet, spessartite garnet and sapphire.