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Citrine
Formula
SiO2
Birth stone for the month of November
For a list of all birthstones, click here
Mineral hardness (Mohs)
Particular hardness: 7
Citrine can only be scratched by materials that are of equal or higher hardness. Diamond might scratch a citrine for example. Due to its toughness a citrine will not break easily and is widely used in jewelry.
Color
This stone usually occurs in the same shades as citrus fruits, hence its name, most often it is a bright yellow. The most valuable citrines are those that are more orange than yellow. Citrine also occurs naturally in a golden yellow shade with a brown or red glow.
Origin & History
Citrine is most commonly found in: Bolivia, Brazil, India, Madagascar, Namibia, Russia, Sri Lanka, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
In bygone days, people believed that citrine helps to improve concentration, helps to prevent perspiration, and helps to get rid of powerlessness. Additionally, yellow gems are viewed as symbols of joy and happiness, they were said to inspire creativity. Finally the color yellow was said to positively influence your immunity.
Care
Citrine may be compared to amethyst, both stones are naturally tough and beautiful. It is for the same reasons that citrine has become a popular stone for use in jewelry. When it comes to care for the stone there are no special precautions that the wearer should be aware of. However, one should of course still be careful not to hit the stone against hard surfaces.
Just like amethyst, citrine has a tendency towards discoloration when constantly exposed to strong light. While it may not be as obvious because citrine occurs in lighter colors than amethyst, eventually the stone may lose all of its color. This discoloration will not be instantaneous, it only occurs after prolonged exposure to strong sunlight for days on end.
Imitations
Imitation citrines may be manufactured from: glass, topaz, tourmaline, chrysoberyl, yellow sapphire and feldspar.
Imitations for citrine are not used that often. Imitations of the rarer orange citrine are used occasionally.
Cut
Citrine may appear in any number of cuts. When it comes to Citrine there is not one specific preferred cut. The appropriate cut is decided on after assessing the color and quality of the stone. Larger stones are preferred though, they bring out the best of the stone’s beautiful color.
Jewelry with Citrine can be found here: