Citrines have been prized for their remarkable beauty and brilliance throughout history. The warm, sunny sun and the vitality of life were also represented by this birthstone for November. The brilliant yellow tones and multidimensional clarity of the November birthstone symbolize a sound mind and body.
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Why do November have two birthstones?
The 12 stones of the High Priest’s breastplate recorded in Exodus are thought to be the origin of the concept of birthstones. Wearing one stone per month of the year was formerly a widespread habit. The Jewelers of America sought to standardize birthstones in 1912. Modern birthstones are chosen primarily on what can be sold in huge quantities the quickest. Thus, there are two birthstones for November. The original birthstone was topaz, but citrine was eventually introduced as a less expensive substitute.
Why is November paired with citrine?
The clear yellow to brownish orange form of quartz, which has been used in jewelry for thousands of years, is the birthstone for November. Since ancient times, citrine has been a popular gemstone, and it has occasionally been confused with topaz, the other birthstone for November. People thus believed that citrine possessed the same abilities as topaz. The citrine gemstone was thought to calm the person and settle their anger.
The jewellery made of rock crystal by the ancient Greeks glistened like permafrost. Massive purple amethysts were put in the rings worn by Roman pontiffs, and citrine has also been found in ancient Roman jewelry. In vibrant Scottish jewelry from the Victorian era, it was especially common. Citrine is a gift for the thirteenth wedding anniversary and is thought to come from the French word for lemon (citron).
The majority of citrine on the market today is created by heating amethyst. One of the most economical and popular yellow gemstones is citrine, which is readily available in a wide range of sizes.
When did citrine become the birthstone for November?
Early in the 1910s, citrine was designated as the birthstone for November. It’s a type of quartz that exhibits shades ranging from light yellow to brown. Iron imperfections in the gem’s structure are what give it its magnificent color. One of the most well-liked and commonly bought yellow gemstones is this one.
What birthstone actually falls in November?
The gorgeous gem of various colors topaz, which is the November birthstone, is highly prized as a gemstone for jewelry. People once thought that topaz had magical and therapeutic properties. Perhaps the Sanskrit word for fire is where its name comes from.
Colors of the November birthstone
Topaz can be found in a variety of stunning hues, including mild blue, pink, red, brown, different hues of yellow, and even black. Topaz is a colorless stone in its purest form. Chromium atoms in the crystal give red and some pink topazes their hue. Most other colors are the result of crystal flaws and small element substitutions. Some hues are brittle and prone to fading. Heat can alter the color of some stones. Colorless topaz can be irradiated with high energy to produce blue gemstones.
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Topaz is an aluminum silicate mineral with fluorine and hydroxide in its chemical composition (a hydrogen-oxygen molecule). Topaz, which rates 8 on the Mohs scale and is the hardest silicate stone, has strong chemical connections throughout. High flourine concentrations, a prerequisite for the creation of topaz, are geologically uncommon, according to Geoscience Australia. They provided an explanation of how topaz forms in igneous rock cavities:
When there is sufficient fluorine to support the creation of topaz, which occurs in the late phases of a magma cooling, the crystals develop. Some topaz crystals form when fluorine-rich hot fluids (hydrothermal solutions) pass through fissures in already-cooled rocks.
Topaz on display
Small crystals and huge rocks of various sizes, including topaz, can be found. A Brazilian example of one of the largest uncut topaz stones weights about 600 pounds (270 kg). It is on view in New York at the American Museum of Natural History.
Additionally, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. is home to one of the largest cut topazes in the world. called the Golden Topaz of America. It is around 7 inches (18 cm) long and 10.1 pounds (4.6 kg) in weight.
Uses for the November birthstone
Topaz is the perfect stone for jewelry like necklaces, brooches, and bracelets because of its vibrant fire, clarity, hues, and toughness. The pure topaz, which is finely cut and colorless, is occasionally mistaken for a diamond. Topaz is a pricey gem because of its scarcity. Red is the most expensive and scarcest color. The most widely used topaz stones are the brownish-yellow, orange-yellow, and reddish brown variants, which are sherry-colored. They are quite expensive, just like pink stones. While less valuable, light blue and pale yellow topaz are nevertheless incredibly beautiful.
Topaz has uses outside of jewelry, such as in industry. As a result of its ability to retain strength in the presence of severe heat, it is employed as a refractory material in kilns and furnaces. It can also be used as a mold for molten metals and glass due to its feature.
Brazil is the world’s largest producer of topaz, with the Minas Geranis region serving as its most noteworthy source. In addition to these nations, topaz is also mined in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Russia, and Australia. People have discovered it in Utah, Texas, and California in the United States.
Topaz lore
Topaz may have gotten its name from a Sanskrit word that means fire. A more complicated alternative story is also present. The gemstone may have been given the name Topazos after an ancient Greek island in the Red Sea. On the purportedly hard to find island, they mined a yellow stone. Most people now believe that stone to be chrysolite.
According to legend, topaz could cool boiling water. According to legend, these diamonds gave their owners happy dreams and made them happy. Additionally, it was thought that persons who wore topaz would live long, beautiful, and intelligent lives.
People in the Middle Ages thought that diamonds with intricate engravings carried extraordinary powers. About the topaz, Ragiel’s Book of Wings from the thirteenth century said:
If a falcon is shown on a topaz, it can be used to win over monarchs, princes, and magnates.
Topaz was once used to treat fevers as medicine. Topaz powder was mixed into wine to treat asthma and sleeplessness. They thought that holding a topaz in a woman’s hand during childbirth would decrease her discomfort.
Topaz was advised as a treatment for impaired vision by Saint Hildegard, a German Benedictine abbess who lived in the 12th century. Three days and nights were spent submerging the stone in wine, after which the liquid was applied to the eyes. A topaz that belonged to two Catholic popes allegedly helped a Roman doctor in the 15th century treat plague sores.
See the birthstones for the rest of the year
In conclusion, topaz is the birthstone for November. It is a hard mineral that is often used in jewelry and has a persistent folklore of magical and therapeutic properties.
Are topaz and citrine the same thing?
Topaz and citrine, which belong to the quartz family, are separate mineral species. Not quartz, although the silicate mineral family includes topaz. Before these distinctions were understood, many cultures misidentified citrine, a yellow type of quartz, by calling it various names like gold topaz, Madeira topaz, or Spanish topaz, which added to the confusion.
Topaz or citrine, which is superior?
Topaz has a Mohs hardness of 8, whereas citrine has a hardness of 7. A fine Topaz is much rarer than a fine Citrine because fine Gem Topaz is also more rarer than a fine Citrine. In comparison to citrine, some extremely rare topaz stones can be extremely expensive.
Citrine is unquestionably lovely, therefore this is not meant to imply that it cannot be. Additionally, it can be discovered in sizes that are far larger than what one is likely to find in topaz, 20 carats or larger. In comparison to practically any other gemstone, citrine is also incredibly inexpensive, costing less than $100 per carat.
What stands for citrine?
Citrines have been prized for their beauty and brilliance throughout history. They serve as a reminder of the vivacity of life and the warm, brilliant sun. Their vivacious yellow hue and brilliant clarity frequently stand in for success and happiness as well as a healthy body and mind.
What hue does November represent?
The yellow color of the November birthstone is derived from the gemstones yellow-orange Topaz, also known as golden Topaz, and yellow Citrine.
The numerous colored variants of topaz are produced by impurities because pure topaz is essentially transparent. Topaz also occurs in gorgeous colors of blue, pastel green, pink, and red in addition to the yellow to orange spectrum. Since processed colorless topaz predominates in the market, natural blue topaz is quite uncommon.
Imperial Topaz, a brand name for natural golden topaz, is relatively uncommon and not frequently used in jewelry. The gorgeous sunset colors of Mystic Topaz, which is frequently found in November jewelry, are typically created by treating transparent Topaz.
Russian and Brazilian topaz are the most expensive kind used in jewelry, although Brazilian topaz is the only source of imperial topaz.
Is citrine a stone of luck?
Citrine, also referred to as the Lucky Merchant’s Stone, is particularly effective in attracting luck. When it comes to business and financial prosperity, this gemstone will be extremely beneficial. It typically has a yellow hue, and like the sun, it gives you the energy you need to complete and succeed in a money-making endeavor.
Citrine transforms energy, so you can turn poor luck around and attract good fortune. You’ll probably start to notice that you can make money more readily after you have this gemstone in your life. You will be thinking of creative and new ways to bring wealth into your life. Wearing citrine jewelry can also make you feel more giving to others and show you that you get more when you give.
Why is it referred to as citrine?
One of the many variants of the mineral Quartz, which comes in more hues than any other mineral, is citrine.
Other kinds of quartz that are used in jewelry include Praseolite, Rose Quartz, Amethyst, Smoky Quartz, Aventurine, and others that can be distinguished by color. The most typical quartz gem is citrine. Even though the most valuable citrines are more brownish red or reddish orange, it gets its name from the French for lemon (if it’s too yellow, it’s just called “lemon quartz”). Iron traces are the cause of the hue.
In Madagascar and the Russian Ural Mountains, you can find natural citrine. Brazil is where the majority of Citrineheat-treated amethystcomes from. Some gems from Bolivia can contain both the colors of amethyst and citrine in the same crystal. The name of these unusual stones is ametrine.
Citrine was mistaken for the completely distinct gem Topaz for many years because of their similar colors.
Citrine is lighter and harder than topaz, but topaz exhibits greater fire in finer stones due to its higher refractive index. However, the significance of the two stones is entwined due of their similar color.
Citrine is reputed to offer protection from snake poison, evil thoughts, and heartache among the ancients and mystics. It is said to transmit the strength and energy of the sun and won’t absorb bad energy. It is the gemstone for the 13th wedding anniversary in addition to being the birthstone for November.
1. An 18k handcrafted cocktail ring by Paula Crevoshay featuring a Larry Woods 21.16-carat “medicine wheel” cut citrine. with diamonds of cognac. 2. A Michael John Jewelry gemstone and diamond bracelet with a sizable citrine in the front. 3. Citrine jewelry made in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, by August Mayer. Science
Citrine is rarely found naturally, thus heat treatment is frequent and stable. The tawny hues of Citrine are frequently produced by heating purple amethyst, which is also a quartz, and the majority of Citrine is the end product of this irreversible heat treatment. According to Karl Leyser of KS Jewelry International in Bangkok, natural citrines often have light color tones. He claims that following heat treatment, they take on a more intense color with crimson undertones. But the fundamental concern is no longer any manipulation of natural quartz.
The world markets have seen an increase in the appearance of synthetic Quartz during the last few years. Treatment has no impact on Citrine’s pricing, which is still very reasonable.
Citrine has a hardness score of seven on the Mohs scale, which means it is scratch resistant enough to be set into rings, bracelets and any other jewelry that takes everyday wear and tear. Even in enormous proportions of up to 20 carats or more, quartz is readily available because it is the second most common mineral on Earth, after feldspar, and the cost per carat does not much increase for higher sizes. Citrine is perfect for making huge cocktail rings or eye-catching pendants and brooches.
Large proportions of citrine also lend themselves to carvings or unusual cuts. Citrine is typically faceted in a range of standard cuts, including cabochons. Citrine is frequently interpreted in dramatic statement pieces that give any winter wardrobe a lift because huge jewels are more readily available and more reasonably priced than tiny accent stones.
Spicy mustard is one of Pantone’s top colors for the upcoming fall and winter seasons. created by Ron and Charles. 2. A modified princess cut citrine provided by August Mayer, Idar-Oberstein, Germany 3. A Mark Schneider orchid pendant studded with citrine. 4. Potter’s Clay is one of Pantone’s top hues for the upcoming fall and winter seasons. Katherine Kung is the designer.