Stunning! Brilliant! Eye-catching! This is the beautiful gemstone, Citrine! Citrine is known for its alluring color and uniqueness, holding captive a desire to be held by every woman’s heart. Many kings from yesteryear desired to own and wear this magnificent stone. The Citrine stone beckons of nature. The warm tones of Citrine jewelry are the perfect complement to the rich, earthy tones of fall and winter. The colors of this gemstone reminds one of the fall reflections of cinnamon, umber, orange and yellow leaves of the trees on the waters. The deep colors are a reminder of an Arizona/New Mexico sunset that captivates all of the senses. Exudes the warmth of a glowing fire or dark rich honey. There are so many ways this stone affects the wearer.
Citrine Crystal Meaning
Citrine is one of many types of the mineral Quartz and it is the most common. Quartz is the second most abundant mineral on the earth. The beauty of the Citrine takes its name from a French word meaning “citron” or “lemon”. Lemon as a description doesn’t do the Citrine stone justice because the colors span from a very light yellow to deeper hues. Do you wonder what causes all the different shades in a Citrine stone? Traces of iron! Iron’s impurities are found within its crystalline lattice. When first seeing Citrine you may confuse it with its similarly shimmering cousin, Topaz. Topaz is a different gemstone, not a Quartz, being denser. Citrine has a beautiful trigonal and hexagonal shape to it.
Throughout various cultures, the Citrine was believed to carry a protective property against evil. The term “Citrine” was used after 1556, prior to that it was simply known as a yellow quartz. Merchants were fascinated by this stone believing it brought wealth and prosperity. Citrine was considered the “Merchants Stone” or the “Stone of Abundance” because many held the belief of wealth and prosperity and power when in the presence of such a stone. Seeking enlightenment? This stone was believed to hold a connection to the Divine. Emotional balance? Citrine was thought to dispel “negative energy and bring about emotional balance.”
The ancient stories and myths surrounding the Citrine stone offers a deeper understanding to the enchantment and glamour of this stone. Even today, many believe the Citrine has mental and emotional healing properties. Keep an open mind while considering the ancients beliefs. The beauty of the stone alone stands out and will continue to carry a special lure in the hearts of many. The 1940’s saw the Citrine explode on the fashion stage often being the central stone in a large cocktail ring. Its sunny disposition suited the streamlined style of that era, set against the beauty of gold. But the Citrine stone is reemerging in sophisticated designs attractive to brands because of the availability of larger carat weights. Its pleasant earthy hue will always attract the heart.
Where is Citrine found?
Where is Citrine mined? The natural Citrine stone comes from the Ural Mountains of Russia and in Madagascar. Natural Citrine is rare often in areas with a history of volcanic activity through a process of natural oxidation deep within the earth. Interestingly the largest Citrine discovered to date weighs a whopping 19,747-carat and is on display at the Smithsonian Natural Museum. This is quite large, consider that the size worn in jewelry is under 25 carats. Interestingly, Angelina Jolie, a famous actress, has donated her Citrine necklace to the Smithsonian. Jolie’s stunning necklace boasts of 64 graduated bezel set cushion cut citrines, placed in 18K yellow gold. Interested in checking out other famous, stunning pieces? Look into the necklace and bracelet set created in 1940 by Trabert & Hoeffer Jewelers. This set was a showpiece because the jewelers were able to match so many large numbers of citrine that perfectly matched in color.
Much of the stone today comes from Brazil where it has been heated-treated from Amethyst. A purple Amethyst is also in the Quartz family. It varies in color from light lavender to deep violet and can even have reddish or bluish hues. When the Amethyst is heat treated, whether naturally or intentionally, the deep coloring changes to a desirable yellow or orange hue. Surprised by the heat treatment? So many of today’s stones from the finest Rubies and Sapphires are also heated. Onyx is dyed. Because the real Citrine is so rare it tends to be quite expensive. The heated Amethyst (Citrine gemstone) has long been accepted as the next best thing. Remember, Citrine is a real stone. It isn’t a man-made glass, resin or some other type of material. Citrine cannot be considered fake or imitation. Every jeweler understands Citrine is heated Amethyst and the stone will always just be called Citrine gemstones.
When considering what types of Citrine jewelry to buy, here are the top 5 in popularity:
• Yellow Citrine: lemony yellow-colored Citrine, which may also be called Lemon Citrine.
• Golden Citrine: Citrine with a golden yellow hue
• Madeira Citrine: The most sought-after Citrine because of its tones of golden orange to reddish-brown. It derives its name from a fortified Portuguese wine made in the Madeira Islands.
• Fire Citrine: A highly desirable deep red orange.
• Palmeria Citrine: A bright orange Citrine.
Today, Citrine’s beautiful color, availability, durability and affordability, makes it the most popular yellow-to-orange gem. Citrine matches yellow gold beautifully while it also stands tall against white gold or sterling silver. This gem will look good with everything in your closet.
Citrine is durable with a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale with topaz scoring an 8. Although it is possible for the facets to slowly wear down over the generational years because of dust, keep these stones clean with simple soapy water and a soft brush. Avoid high heat and take care to store all of your gemstone jewelry separately when traveling. It is possible to scratch the stone and the color could permanently fade in constant sunlight.
Now that you understand the Citrine world, the Citrine stone, known for its versatility, is the favored gemstone. It adds a touch of radiance to any outfit from stunning rings, earrings, bracelets, antique broaches and necklaces. Citrine’s ability to be easily shaped and cut offers a wide variety of shapes, but round and oval shapes are the most common. They are also found in fancier cuts such as marquise and pear. Citrine jewelry has a smooth, polished surface and is available in many different sizes.
Forever Anniversary offers an impressive array of this eye-pleasing stone. Whether a celebration for your 13th anniversary or the month of November birthstone find, we know you will be forever pleased with the warm joy this Citrine gemstone will bring.