November’s golden birthstones: Citrine and topaz

Yellow citrine

November is such a lucky month that it gets two birthstones: citrine and topaz. Citrine, considered a “gift from the sun,” gets its name from “citron,” the French word for lemon. According to the GIA, yellow topaz has often been confused with citrine. Both are believed to have calming powers. Plus, since they’re generally affordable, both are perfect for large, bold statement pieces.

Citrine earrings

Citrine

• Citrine is a form of quartz that is often the result of heat-treated amethyst. Its color ranges from bright yellow to orange-red.
• It was once known as “the merchant’s stone,” in the belief that it brought success and prosperity.
• It’s the “official” stone for the 13^th wedding anniversary.
• Amethyst and citrine can be found in the same mine. When they appear together, it’s called “ametrine.”

Topaz

Imperial topaz

• Topaz is found in shades of yellow, gold, blue, green, red, and sometimes no color at all.
• Egyptians and Romans believed the golden topaz could protect and heal; in the middle ages, people believed it could thwart magic spells and dispel anger.
• Today, people think of topaz as being blue, which is often a result of heating or man-made processes.
• Pinkish-orange stones are called “Imperial topaz,” since they were a favorite of the Russian aristocracy.

Taking care of your birthstones

• Citrines have a hardness of 7, which makes them pretty durable. Topazes rate an 8 on the Moh’s scale, but can be prone to chipping or cracking.
• Clean both with warm, soapy water; don’t use steam, because heat can cause the stone to crack.
• Extreme sunlight can cause these stones to lighten in color.

Buying tips

• Look for heavy color saturation, especially in citrines.
• Be sure to examine the stones in daylight, which can give a truer view than harsh store lights.
• In both cases, the clearer the stone, the higher the value. Inclusions will decrease their value.

So, if November is your birth month, take your pick—citrine or topaz. They’ll calm your pre-holiday jitters.

Protect your gems

Know what you’ve got! Keep your precious jewelry, silver, watches, and heirlooms safe. The first step is to get an updated appraisal. It doesn’t take long and can save you a lot of headaches later. Give me a call at 617-304-1074 and we can take care of it before the holidays!

Brilliantly yours, Aimee