Birthstone Month:
Citrine is the birthstone for the month of November.

Zodiac:
Citrine is associated with the zodiac sign of Virgo.

Chemical Symbol:
SiO2

Chemical Make-up:
Citrine is made up of the macrocrystalline variety of the crystal Quartz.

History & Lore:
The name Citrine is derived from the French word citron meaning “lemon”. The Citrine gemstone is given its name because of its yellow coloration. Champagne refers specifically to the color of this variety, which is brownish-yellow, and is not typically as intense as the color displayed by the yellow-orange Citrine varieties. Whilst Citrine is sometimes referred to as Topaz Quartz owing to the likeness in colors shared by the two stones, this is in fact incorrect as the two are different minerals.

It has been said that Citrine helps to manifest your goals and keeps the wearer cheerful. In ancient times, Citrine was carried as protection against snake venom and evil / impure thoughts. Citrine does not absorb negative energies but rather dissipates and transmutes them, which is why this stone is good for clearing your aura. It attracts abundance, prosperity, and success, and because of this Citrine has been nicknamed the "success stone." Citrine stimulates the solar plexas and third eye chakras, promoting stamina and activating intuition. It can also help to overcome sleep related problems such as insomnia and nightmares. Physically it is said to help with poor blood circulation, digestion, allergies, and an aid to curing life-threatening diseases.

Sources:
Today the prime supplier of Citrine is Brazil, although Citrine can also be found in Bolivia, France, Madagascar, Russia, Scotland, Spain, United States (North Carolina, Colorado, Georgia, Nevada, California), Uruguay, and Zambia.

Evaluation:
Citrine is rated 7 on the Moh's Scale of Hardness, making it a durable gemstone suitable for everyday wear. Whilst essentially sharing the same chemical make-up, it is less expensive than its close relative, Amethyst. Thanks to its durability and availability, Citrine is one of the most affordable gemstones available, presenting excellent value for money. This value is further enhanced by the fact that owing to strong availability, per carat prices do not exponentially increase with size. Citrine is available in a variety of colors of yellow, yellow-brown, orange, red-orange, dark orange-brown, and reddish-brown. Though the darker, orange colors of Citrine have historically been considered more valuable, many people are today beginning to prefer the bright, juicy, lemony shades that Citrine offers.

It should be noted that natural Citrine is pale yellow to pale orange in color, whereas heat-treated Citrine is orange-brown to reddish-brown in color. Citrine in the “brown” colors is almost always heat-treated Amethyst.

Common Cuts:
Due to the ready availability of large Citrine gemstone examples, Citrine is often custom cut into intricate shapes. It is also commonly cut into Cabochons, Emerald, Oval, Pear, Round and Square shapes / cuts. Citrine is also often sculpted into ornaments and cut into beads.

Routine Enhancements:
Citrine gemstones are usually heat-treated in order to produce the best coloration. This method of treatment is considered a permanent treatment and the color should not fade over time. When purchasing any Citrine presume that the stone in question has been heat-treated unless otherwise specified.

Care & Cleaning:
Use warm, soapy water and a soft brush to clean Citrine. Ultrasonic cleaners are generally safe. Never use chemicals such as hydrofluoric acid or ammonium fluoride to clean Citrine because it can erode the stone. Much like relative the Amethyst, Citrine should be kept away from prolonged exposure to extremes of heat and light as this can cause permanent color change. Citrine should be kept in a fabric lined box away from other jewelry items in order to avoid scratching.