November Birthstone – Citrine

Do you have a birthday in November? Happy Birthday! This month’s birthstone, is the lovely Citrine.

What does the name “Citrine” mean? – The name Citrine comes from an old French world, “Citrin”, meaning lemon. One of the more rare forms of quartz, this gemstone ranges in color from the palest yellow to a dark amber named Madeira because of its resemblance to the red wine.

What is the history behind this gemstone? – Perhaps because of its scarcity, there is little mention of Citrine used as a gemstone prior to the first century B.C. The Romans were thought to be the first to wear the yellow quartz, crafting it into cabochon, or highly polished but unfaceted cuts of stone set into jewelry. Citrine became more popular during the Romantic Period, when artisans often favored these warm colored gems to enhance gold jewelry. Citrine, like all forms of quartz, was believed to have magical powers and was worn as a talisman against evil.

Where does Citrine come from? – Sources of Citrine include Brazil, Bolivia, several African countries and parts of the Soviet Union.

[Source: About November Birthstone ] See our Citrine collection here.

Blog post by ~ Jelene