Celebrating citrine

If you are celebrating your birthday this month, you will most likely know that citrine is one of November’s birthstones. But how much do you really know about the gem that is known for its calming qualities?​

French for “lemon", citrine is a gem that gets its colour from iron present in the quartz. Its tawny colour can often be confused with topaz, November's other birthstone. Ranging from light yellow to deep orange, citrine is said to be a gift from the sun and is believed to be a healing gemstone.

With a ranking of 7 out of 10 on the Mohs scale, it is a durable stone but can be sensitive to heat, so be cautious when it is exposed to prolonged sunlight or heat. Like a lot of gemstones, citrine is often heat treated to enhance the colour. Yellow citrine is actually a very rare find in nature.
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The gemstone, commonly sourced in Bolivia, Spain, Madagascar, Mexico and Uruguay, is not as rare as other stones, meaning there are many options if you choose this birthstone for your jewellery.