{"id":200,"date":"2008-11-18T03:16:02","date_gmt":"2008-11-18T11:16:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cheldodge.net\/blog\/?p=196"},"modified":"2008-11-18T03:16:02","modified_gmt":"2008-11-18T11:16:02","slug":"novembers-birthstone-citrine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/lavajewelry\/2008\/11\/18\/novembers-birthstone-citrine\/","title":{"rendered":"November’s Birthstone: Citrine!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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!<\/p>\n

Today, I’m writing about November’s birthstone, beautiful yellow citrine.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

I carry citrine jewelry on my new web site<\/a> and in my Etsy shop<\/a>. Perfect for November birthdays of course!<\/p>\n

Question of the Day<\/strong> (unrelated to citrine): What is your favorite episode of The Office? (either US or UK) Or your favorite scene?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"