November Birthstone: Citrine & Topaz

November Birthstone: Citrine & Topaz

November birthdays are associated with two gems; Citrine and Topaz. The warm colour of Citrine is said to be a gift from the sun and it’s believed to be a healing gemstone. Topaz is most desired in its rich orange Imperial Topaz colour, but it’s found in a variety of rich colours like blue, pink and yellow. Both known for their calming energies, bringing warmth and fortune to those who wear them.

Topaz and Citrine look so similar, in fact, that they’ve often been mistaken for one another throughout history. They are in fact, unrelated minerals and Topaz occurs in a wide spectrum of colours far beyond yellow. Both of November’s birthstones are fairly abundant and affordably priced, even in large sizes, which means everyone can find a way to fit Topaz and Citrine into their budget.


Citrine Meaning

This bright shining gem has said to be a gift from the sun. The name Citrine, which is French for “lemon”, fits well with its colour range of juicy lemon yellow to a bright orangey brown. Most people choose a Citrine based on their personal preference, but some of the most sought-after Citrine gemstones have a clear, radiant yellowish to brownish red colour.

This November birthstone is a variety of quartz, which has been used in jewellery for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks carved rock crystal ornaments that glistened like permafrost. Roman pontiffs wore rings set with massive purple Amethysts and Citrine has been reported in Roman jewellery. It was particularly popular in colourful Scottish jewellery from the Victorian era. This stunning stone is given for the thirteenth wedding anniversary.

In ancient times, Citrine was carried as a protection against snake venom and evil thoughts. Today, Citrine is known as the merchant’s stone and is associated with success and prosperity. This gem is also known as “healing quartz,” because legend has it that Citrine promotes vitality and energy in whomever wears it. According to the Chinese feng shui philosophy, Citrine creates wealth and abundance.

Citrine is one of the most popular and affordable gemstones. It is relatively plentiful and available in a wide range of sizes and shapes, including very large sizes. These reasons make it a great gem for that big, bold, statement piece.


Choosing a Citrine

Colour: The finest Citrine colours are saturated, with little to no brown component, and range from yellow to orange-yellow to reddish orange. Look for warm, sunny hues.

Clarity: Citrine is usually “eye clean,” meaning it lacks eye-visible inclusions. Visible inclusions in a pale-coloured gem greatly reduce the Citrine’s value.

Cut: Citrine is available in a wide variety of standard shapes and cutting styles. In addition, many high-end gem carvers have fashioned the warm yellow gem into unusual fantasy cuts for distinctive jewellery and objets d’art. Citrine rough with minor inclusions is often used to make beads or is used occasionally for cabochons or more conventional carvings.

Carat weight: Citrine crystals occur in a wide range of sizes, and faceted stones up to 20 carats are readily available in jewellery. 


Taking Care of your Citrine

Citrine can be safely cleaned with warm, soapy water. While it is usually okay to clean Citrine in an ultrasonic machine, steam cleaning is risky since Citrine should not be subjected to heat. Please ensure you visit a trustworthy jeweller such as Lumbers to ensure your jewellery is checked over before cleaning. If any claws are missing or the stone is loose – you could shake out the stone from its mount during ultrasonic cleaning.

Most of the Citrine on the market is the result of heat treatment, which causes Amethyst to change colour from an undesirable pale violet to an attractive yellow. In some cases, a darker starting material is used, as the Amethyst’s original hue can determine the richness of the resulting Citrine’s yellow colour.

Topaz Meaning

In shades of yellow, brown, honey, green, blue, red, pink and sometimes no colour at all, Topaz has a mass appeal. Topaz is often found in an amber gold, yellow, or a blushing pink orange but a pale pink or a sherry red Topaz is very exceptional. The most prized colour of Topaz is called Imperial Topaz and features a magnificent orange with pink undertones. Blue, once the rarest colour of Topaz, is the most common today due to man’s ability to enhance its colour; Topaz with a naturally blue colour is very rare.

The ancient Egyptians and Romans associated this golden gem with the sun god giving it the power to protect and heal. Legend says that Topaz dispels enchantment. With its worldwide mass appeal throughout the centuries, once you find that perfect Topaz you’ll soon be under its spell.

Topaz was long thought to have many benefits. The ancient Greeks believed that Topaz gave them strength. From the 1300s to the 1600s, Europeans thought it could thwart magic spells and dispel anger. The November birthstone was also believed to have curative powers. To treat “dimness of vision,” 12^th century abbess St. Hildegard recommended placing Topaz in wine for three days and then rubbing the moistened Topaz on the patient’s eyes.

The Topaz birthstone symbolizes love and affection, it is said to bestow strength and intelligence on the person who wears it, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, and a gift of blue Topaz is said to be a promise of love and fidelity.


Choosing a Topaz

Colour: Blue Topaz and colourless Topaz are widely available and very affordable. Most of the blue Topaz on the market today has been colour treated, red and pink Topaz varieties are rare, highly cherished and will carry a significantly higher price tag per carat. Imperial Topaz is also highly prized.

Clarity: Faceted blue Topaz is almost always free of eye-visible inclusions. Topaz in colours that are not as plentiful may be included. Depending on the rarity of the colour, inclusions may not have a significant effect on value.

Cut: Topaz is cut in a wide variety of shapes and styles, including emerald, cushion, oval, pear, round, triangular, marquise and fantasy cuts.

Carat weight: If the colour of the Topaz is considered rare, the per-carat price may rise dramatically as size increases.


Taking Care of your Topaz

To clean this November birthstone, do not use steam cleaning or ultrasonic cleaners to clean Topaz. Warm, soapy water works best; which is great as this can be completed in the comfort of your own home.

High heat or sudden temperature changes can cause internal breaks in Topaz. The gem’s colour is generally stable to light, but prolonged exposure to heat or sunlight might cause fading in yellow-to-brown, reddish brown or dark brown gems. Topaz may be affected slightly by some chemicals, so ensure you remove your precious items before cleaning or handling acidic food. 

In addition to irradiation and heat treatment, colourless Topaz is sometimes coated with a thin metallic film to change the colour or produce a fancy iridescent effect. The coating can resist daily wear and tear, but abrasive cleaners or buffing wheels will remove it. Only a mild soap solution should be used to clean a Topaz treated in this manner.


Famous Fans?

Both of the November birthstones have a royal advocate in the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton (who was born in January, but maybe garnet isn’t her colour?). 

If you glimpsed her engagement photos with Prince William you may have assumed that her glittery pavé drop earrings were diamond, but they were actually made of white Topaz.

The Duchess also has a favourite pair of cushion-cut Citrine drop earrings by Kiki McDonough, a popular British (but of course) jewellery designer, and has appeared in white Topaz and blue Topaz earrings by McDonough. Lumbers is a stockist of this wonderful brand so if you want to steal the Duchess’s style then visit us online or in-store!

We think Topaz and Citrine are a perfect fit with the Duchess’s down-to-earth elegance, because they’re nearly as dazzling as precious gems but without the precious price tag.

Take a chance to see a selection of our products online, or for the full range come and visit us in-store. We want to welcome you as part of the Lumbers Family. We have stunning products and specialist knowledge, an on-site workshop and valuer… What more could you need!?