Topaz and citrine are two lovely birthstones that can be worn by people born in November. Citrine is appreciated for its lovely yellow and orange tones whereas topaz comes in a variety of colors. Both birthstones for November are thought to provide relaxing qualities that also bring luck and warmth to the bearer. Since high-quality gems like topaz and citrine are not as scarce as for many of their contemporaries, these birthstones are often priced reasonably. As a result, people who were born in November have a wide range of alternatives. Choosing one will be your biggest issue.
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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.
Is the birthstone for November unusual?
- Topaz is truly colorless, but impurities can give it nearly any hue, with conventional tones ranging from yellow to amber.
- Blue topaz is extremely rare in nature; those that are routinely sold have undergone treatment.
- The most expensive variety of topaz is imperial topaz, a reddish orange stone with pink undertones.
Topaz Symbolism
- The Greeks of antiquity thought that topaz could render its wearer invisible.
- The stone was additionally believed to reduce rage and stabilize powerful emotions.
- Topaz was viewed as a sign of strength and honor, and it was thought to bring sagacity and knowledge.
Topaz or citrine, which is superior?
The fourth wedding anniversary is traditionally marked with a blue topaz, while the 23rd wedding anniversary is typically marked with an imperial topaz.
Topaz was regarded to give power to the ancient Greeks, and from the 1300s to the 1600s, it was believed to be able to ward off evil spells and calm rage throughout Europe. For many years, Indians believed that wearing a topaz pendant above the heart would bring about long life, wisdom, and beauty.
All clear yellow, orange, or brown gemstones were referred to as topaz until the turn of the 20th century. As a result, topaz was supposed to have a golden colour and attract wealth and gold to the wearer.
Topaz is quite harda Mohs scale 8but not extremely tough, thus it needs to be cleaned carefully. (Recall that the Mohs’ scale of hardness is used to categorize minerals.) Because excessive heat might create internal cracks in the stone, avoid using steam or ultrasonic cleaners on topaz. Topaz should be cleaned with warm, soapy water, advises Southern California-based bespoke jeweler Shmukler Design, to stop cracking.
Topaz is usually stable in the presence of light, but extended exposure to heat or too much sunlight can cause the yellow-to-brown varieties of the gem to lose their color. To be safe, remove the topaz gem when washing jewelry with chemicals. Topaz may also be somewhat impacted by some chemicals.
The handcrafted coating of the Mystic Topaz can survive normal wear, but it does require gentle cleaning. If your birthstone has been subjected to this treatment, clean it with a gentle soap solution.
Let’s move on to Citrine now:
Citrine is a clear yellow to brownish-orange form of quartz that has been used in jewelry for hundreds of years but wasn’t initially recognized as the birthstone for November. It was initially mistaken for topaz, the other birthstone for November. Citrine is said to have been named after the French word for lemon, citron, as its citrus tints would imply. Instead of lemon, residues of iron are what give the food its yellow to orange hue.
While Roman pontiffs wore rings with enormous amethysts that were rumored to be citrine, the ancient Greeks cut citrine into rock crystal decorations. In Victorian jewelry, citrine was also quite popular in Scotland, and today, citrine is the customary gift on a 13th wedding anniversary.
Because natural citrine is so uncommon, the majority of it that is currently available on the market was created by heating amethyst.
Spain, Bolivia, Mexico, Madagascar, and Uruguay are the main exporters of this gemstone for November. Brazil is a common mining location for amethyst that has been heated to a citrine hue.
Many people originally thought citrine had the same alleged calming properties as November’s second birthstone since it is often confused with topaz. Today, supporters of citrine extol its unique “powers, including fostering individual clarity and creativity and reducing negative inclinations. The qualities of hope, youth, vigor, health, happiness, and fidelity are also considered to be connected to citrine.
Finally, from the second millennium BCE until the end of the Han dynasty in 220 CE, people who lived in China termed citrine the “The emperors of that era believed that wearing the gem helped them develop their minds and sharpen their intellects, and they referred to it as the “stone of success.”
Citrine, which rates a 7 on the Mohs scale, is as hard as topaz, the other November birthstone, but citrine has superior toughness characteristics. Citrine can be cleaned with warm, soapy water and is resilient enough for everyday use. If you’d like, you can clean your citrine jewelry with an ultrasonic cleaner, but since steam cleaning could result in cracks, we strongly advise against it.
Is topaz pricey?
Like every stone, the quality of topaz affects its price. Nevertheless, a few generalizations are possible. The most popular type of topaz used in jewelry today, blue topaz, has been produced in such large numbers that it is now typically sold for $25 per carat at retail for ring sizes. Larger sizes could cost a little extra. Even though treated blue topaz is widely produced, the price of natural blue topaz has practically decreased to match that of the treated stone.
Blue topaz is created (by irradiation and heat) from colorless topaz, which is offered in sizes up to 100 ct and higher and costs less than $8/ct. Similar prices are paid for brown topaz.
Contrarily, valuable topaz, often known as “imperial” topaz, can sell for more than $1000 per carat (ct) in big (10 ct+) proportions. Richly colored topaz with a pink or red hue is the most expensive; its retail price can approach $3500/ct. Above 5 ct, these are uncommon.
November is what kind of Diamond?
What stones represent each month’s birth? Garnet, amethyst, aquamarine, diamond, emerald, alexandrite, ruby, peridot, sapphire, tourmaline, topaz, and blue topaz are the gemstones associated with the months of January through December. Find out more about these well-known gemstones.
What color is my birthday?
See What Yours Is: Each Birth Month Has a Different Color and Meaning!
- January. Caramel color.
- February. Sheer lilac in color.
- Fair Aqua. Month of March.
- Cayenne color. April.
- Color: Bud Green. May.
- June. Aspen Gold in color.
- July. Coral blush in color.
- Sun Orange for August.
What hues make up Scorpio?
It is a constant, adverse sign. The scorpion, the snake, and the eagle are the three creatures that are connected to the sign of Scorpio. Dark crimson, maroon, black, and brown are the colors of Scorpio, according to The Astrology Bible.
In the Bible, what shade is topaz?
Chrysolit, Heb. trshysh (Ex., xxviii, 20; xxxix, 13; Ezech., I 16; x, 9; xxviii, 13; Cant., v, 14; Dan., x, 6); Sept., chrysolithos (Ex., xxviii, 20; xxxix, 13; Ezech., xxviii, 13); This stone, which stands fourth in Ezech., xxviii, 13, and is listed as the seventh foundation stone of the celestial city in Apoc., xxi, 20, is the tenth stone of the rational and represents the tribe of Zebulun.
The nature of this stone is not indicated in any of the Hebrew writings. However, since the Septuagint consistently translates the Hebrew word by chrysolithos, with the exception of a few places where it merely transliterates it, such as in Ezech., x, 9, since the Vulgate also largely adheres to this translation, and since Aquila, Josephus, and St. Epiphanius all agree on it, it can be assumed that the ancients’ equivalent of chrysolite was our topaz.
The name “tharsis” probably refers to the place where the diamond was created (Tarshish). The modern chrysolite is an irregularly shaped, green, oblong hexagonal prism with two triangular pyramidal ends. Topaz, also known as ancient chrysolite, is an orange-yellow, octagonal prism made of alumina, silica, hydrofluoric acid, and iron. It can be found in Egypt, Arabia, and Ceylon. Several species were said to exist (Pliny, “Hist. nat.”, XXXVII, xlv), and during the Middle Ages it was thought to have the ability to drive away devils, reduce nighttime anxiety, and be a fantastic treatment for eye conditions.
Topazis it a crystal?
A well-known mineral called topaz can be found in the form of enormous crystals with exquisite shapes and colors. It naturally occurs in a variety of hues, but pink, purple, and deep blue are uncommon. Stones with a lighter color require heat treatment and irradiation to create those hues.