I have not yet written about October’s other birthstone, tourmaline, but I promise to get to that. Such a beautiful stone should not be skipped in my series!
Today, I’m writing about November’s birthstone, beautiful yellow citrine.
Citrine is a yellow gemstone variety of the mineral quartz (SiO2). It derives its yellow color from trace amounts of iron. Natural citrine is relatively rare. The vast majority of citrine that is available commercially is actually amethyst (primarily from Brazil) that has been heat-treated to turn it yellow. It is safe to assume that any citrine you purchase has been heat-treated.
Citrine is a 7 on Moh’s hardness scale, and it has pretty good toughness (meaning that it doesn’t fracture easily), making it a fairly durable stone. Citrine is suitable for rings, as well as necklaces, pendants, and earrings.
Citrine is relatively easy to care for. It can be cleaned either in an ultrasonic bath, or simply with warm water and mild soap. Steam cleaning is not recommended. The color of citrine is stable (it won’t fade in sunlight), but it can be changed by extreme heat. As with all gemstones, it’s best to avoid exposing your citrine jewelry to chemicals or impacts. Jewelry that is properly cared for can become a family heirloom.
I carry citrine jewelry on my new web site and in my Etsy shop. Perfect for November birthdays of course!
Question of the Day (unrelated to citrine): What is your favorite episode of The Office? (either US or UK) Or your favorite scene?
micheledodge
Latest posts by micheledodge (see all)
- White Swarovski Pearls on Long Sterling Silver Ear Wires – Earrings s10e057 - February 28, 2011
- White Swarovski Pearls on Circular Sterling Silver Ear Wires – Earrings s10e056 - February 28, 2011
- Black Onyx on Long Sterling Silver Ear Wires – Earrings s10e054 - February 28, 2011
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks!
I think my favorite scene from the UK version is when David Brent is playing his guitar and singing during the customer service training seminar. Ricky Gervais is brilliant. “Free love on the free love freeway…”
Speaking of Ricky Gervais, did any one see that episode of The Simpsons that he was on? Definitely one of my all-time favorite Simpsons episodes.
Informative post and lovely photos! Just added you to my blogroll 🙂
As for your question of the day, one of my favorite scenes in the (UK) Office has to be David Brent doing his dance without music!
Thanks, kimbuktu!
Happy Birthday, Karen! I hope you had a good day on Sunday. 🙂
Amethyst was my favorite gemstone as a teenager. I also wished that it was my birthstone. I never really wore much purple or had a particular fondness for purple, but amethyst always held a strong allure for me.
As an adult, I developed an appreciation for my birthstone, garnet. I think I started to like it when I realized that there were purple-ish varieties of it. I’ve since come to love the reds and oranges too.
My birthstone is citrine and I’m coming to like it more over the years. When I was a girl, I was annoyed that I didn’t have one of the “prettier” colors, like amethyst! My daughter is a citrine by birthdate as well. Your citrine jewelry is lovely! I like the unexpected pairing of it with the silver.
I love citrine, even though it is not my birthstone. These are beautiful!