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.
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.
What hue represents topaz for November?
Two gems, citrine and topaz, are related to November birthdays. Citrine is thought to be a healing gemstone and its warm color is regarded to be a gift from the sun. Topaz comes in a number of rich colors, including blue, pink, and yellow, but its deep orange Imperial Topaz color is the most sought-after.
Why Does November Have Two Birthstones?
Although Citrine replaced Topaz as the official birthstone for November in the early 1910s after jewelers discovered that adding heat and pressure to amethyst would enable it to become yellow, Topaz is still the traditional birthstone for November due to the rarity of yellow Topaz. 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 is the History about the November Birthstones?
Some people think the Sanskrit word tapas, which meaning “fire,” is where the word “topaz” originates. Some attribute it to the Greek topazos. It has long been believed that the birthstone for November has several advantages. Topaz was regarded by the ancient Greeks as a source of power. Given for the thirteenth wedding anniversary, citrine, which is thought to have descended from the French word for “lemon” (citron), has a history of being confused with topaz. People thus believed that citrine possessed the same abilities as topaz. The citrine gemstone was thought to calm the person and settle their anger.
What is the November Birthstone Color?
Topaz and citrine are the two birthstone possibilities for people born in November. Golden yellow is the hue of the birthstone for November. Although topaz comes in a range of hues, yellow is the birthstone for November’s symbol. Since blue topaz is a more common color for topaz and is more accessible than yellow topaz, some people pick it as an alternative. Golden yellow gemstone known as citrine has hues that vary from light yellow to brownish orange.
What is the November Birthstone Meaning?
The word topaz is derived from the Sanskrit tapas, which means fire, and the Greek word topazion. This captivating diamond, one of the most colorful, is available in various varieties. Citrine is thought to be a healing gemstone and is said to be a gift from the sun.
What are Typical November Birthstone Rings?
Finding a yellow topaz is challenging, especially for a reasonable price. Citrine is a lovely birthstone for November since it provides possibilities at cheaper costs. The birthstone rings from Joseph’s Jewelry collection, which come in white, yellow, and rose 14k gold, vividly display the eye-catching color of citrine.
Is the birthstone for November blue or yellow?
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 consequently believed that citrine had comparable abilities to topaz. Citrine was said to calm the wearer and quiet the temper.
It was used by the ancient Greeks to chisel jewellery out of rock crystal that sparkled like permafrost. Massive purple amethysts were put in the rings worn by Roman pontiffs, and citrine has also reportedly been used in 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. Citrine is one of the most affordable and sought-after yellow gemstones since it is readily available in a wide range of sizes.
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 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.
How much does topaz cost?
Like any stone, topaz prices vary according to quality. 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. The cost of brown topaz is comparable.
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. Over 5 ct. sizes of these are uncommon.
Does topaz resemble citrine?
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.
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.
