Topaz and citrine are two lovely birthstones that can be worn by people born in November. While topaz is available in a wide range of colours, citrine is renowned for its lovely yellow and orange tones. 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.
In This Article...
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.
What color is associated with November births?
Warm yellow-orange topaz, sometimes referred to as Imperial topaz, is the customary birthstone for November, making yellow the birthstone color for the month. Citrine, a bright yellow gemstone, is the alternate birthstone for November, and both Topaz and Citrine are recognized as legal birthstones.
Beryl serves as the primary Zodiac stone for Scorpio (Oct. 24 – Nov. 22), while topaz serves as the primary Zodiac stone for Sagittarius (Nov 23 – Dec 21). The Gemini (May 22June 21) star sign’s secondary astrological birthstone is citrine. Other birthday emblems include the Chrysanthemum, which is the natal flower for November.
Imperial Topaz jewelry is presented to commemorate a 23rd wedding anniversary and Citrine jewelry a 13th anniversary, in addition to being a heartfelt present for a person’s birthday in November.
According to some sources, the name Topaz is derived from the Sanskrit word tapas, which means “fire” or “hot.” Other sources claim that the name was derived from the ancient Egyptian island of Topazos in the Red Sea, where a golden stone was mined. French citrin and Latin citrus combine to form the word citrine, which meaning “yellow” or “lemon colored.”
Citrine is linked to joy and success, while Topaz represents consistency, loyalty, faithfulness, and friendship.
What shade of stone is topaz?
Aside from brown, topaz actually has a very diverse color spectrum that also includes numerous shades and saturations of blue, green, yellow, orange, red, pink, and purple. Topaz that is colorless is widely available and frequently dyed blue. Topaz is also pleochroic, which means that it can exhibit many hues depending on the crystal direction.
What does the birthstone for November look like?
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.
The flower for November is…
On the coast, November can be a quite soggy and gloomy month, but one traditional flower really makes things more cheerful this month: the timeless Chrysanthemum. Mums are the flower associated with November, the month in which you were born.
What color is the Sagittarius?
Purple, the hue of spirituality and consciousness, is the sign of Sagittarius. Purple encourages philosophical thought to be open and enlightened. Purple, another color associated with abundance, feeds the lucky and upbeat traits of the Sagittarius sign and inspires it to keep expanding its horizons.
Flower: Carnation
People born under the sign of Sagittarius are powerful yet delicate, like a carnation. It makes logical that these zodiac flowers be coupled with one of the most widely used wedding flowers as Sagittarius’ are known for their love of love! Carnations are a representation of love because they frequently remain the longest in a bunch of flowers. Just as a carnation blooms in branching or forked clusters, Sagittarius is a fire sign and is noted for its adventurous nature. The fire sign will always approach their activities with an open mind because they dislike being subdued.
What color best represents Sagittarius?
Black is perhaps their favorite color since, like them, it is flawless and devoid of any issues. Sagittarians are laid-back and prefer colors that reflect their free-spirited nature. They are drawn to the color purple the most.
What birthstone has the rarest stone?
While some birthstones are more accessible than others, precious gemstones in particular are thought to be relatively scarce. However, given that some really expensive stones are not all that rare and vice versa, price tags can be deceiving when it comes to rarity. For instance, although expensive, April’s diamond is less rare than rubies, emeralds, and alexandrite. Speaking of alexandrite, it is now the most expensive and rarest gemstone on the list of birthstones. Additionally extremely rare, black opals are.
Birthstones provide an intriguing way to select jewelry. They enable people to investigate jewels that they might otherwise avoid. However, birthstones are not always what people think they are, so make sure you are buying birthstone jewelry for the right reasons while making your selection.