Citrine: Celebrating November’s golden birthstone

Just as leaves turn gold in November, this warm tone is reflected in November’s birthstones—citrine and yellow topaz. Originally confused with one another, they were believed to soothe tempers and calm the wearer. I’ve previously written about topaz, so here’s some background on beautiful citrine.

The quartz connection

• Citrine is actually a form of quartz that ranges from transparent yellow to brown-orange. Its name is believed to come from the French for lemon, “citron.”
• It’s rare to find natural citrine; today, most stones are actually heat-treated amethyst (the purple form of quartz), according to the GIA.
• If smoky quartz is heat-treated, it can result in lime-colored citrine.
• When a crystal includes both amethyst and citrine (found mostly in Bolivia) the intriguing combo gem is called “ametrine.”

How to buy citrine jewelry

• It’s the top-selling yellow-to-orange gem. High-end designers use it for unusual cuts for jewelry and in carvings.
• The good news is that citrine won’t break your budget. According to the GIA, large stones are affordable—the price per carat doesn’t rise for big stones. In fact, citrines are available up to 20 carats.
• It’s durable, so you can find it in a variety of sizes, cuts, and settings.
• The best-selling shade is earthy, deep brownish or reddish orange. The more saturated the color, the better.
• Make sure the stones are clear from impurities and inclusions.

Caring for your jewels

• Citrine has a Mohs rating of 7, so it’s relatively strong for a variety of uses.
• Don’t use a steam cleaner; the heat could cause the stone to crack.
• Soak the jewelry in warm water with mild soap dish and wipe with a soft cloth.

Healing properties and meaning of citrine

• It’s believed that citrine cleanses the chakras and opens intuition. It also attracts prosperity and success, and can release negative feelings.
• It can help harness the energy of light to bring on positive energy and help you embrace positivity.

Protect all your fine jewelry and heirloom pieces so you know the value of what you have. Your first step: get an updated, detailed appraisal. I can help you understand what you have and provide the materials you’ll need to insure your valuables. Contact me at (617) 304-0174 or at aimee@ambappraisal.com with questions or to arrange an appointment.

Brilliantly yours, Aimee