Citrine is found in a beautiful range of transparent shades of yellow to gold to orange brown. Aptly named after the French word “citron” meaning lemon, Citrine has been described as a tasty juicy lemon colored gemstone. Prior to the modern day naming of the Citrine, it was a stone carried by ancient warriors and travelers as protection against snake venom and evil thoughts.

Today rich deposits of Citrine are mined in Brazil; particularly in Rio Grande do Sul. Citrine is an abundant gemstone and therefore very affordable. Many people have discovered that the bright lemony shades complement other gemstones of pastel colors extremely well. Many young designers are enjoying a field day matching Citrine with Amethyst. Citrine with a Mohs hardness of seven is well suited for most jewelry types. Citrine can brighten almost any jewelry style, blending especially well with the yellow gleam of polished gold.

A common misnomer of Citrine is the name “topaz quartz”, Citrine and topaz are completely different minerals, and thus this type of name can be confusing and should not be used when referring to Citrine. The misleading name was used in the past in reference to the color, which is sometimes similar to the color of topaz. It should be noted that almost all heat-treated Citrine acquires a reddish tint, natural Citrine is usually pale yellow. Other names besides topaz quartz such as Bahia, Madeira, or Rio Grande topaz are also improper and deceptive in the trade. However, citrine is still considered an alternative to topaz as the birthstone for November.