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| Color |
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Lemon yellow to golden
yellow to orange-brown |
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| Gem Family |
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Citrine is a unique member
of the quartz family. |
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| Source |
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Most citrine is mined
in Brazil, particularly the state of Rio Grande
do Sul. The Serra and Iraâ mines produce hundreds
of kilos of rough every month. |
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| Clarity |
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Usually free of eye-visible
inclusions |
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| Size Range |
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Citrine is generally
more affordable than amethyst, its quartz cousin.
Like all quartz gems, citrine is relatively plentiful
and is available in a wide range of sizes and shapes,
including very large sizes. For extra brilliance,
many citrines are polished into Radial Cuts™,
which have clever curved facets that focus light
like lenses. |
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| Shapes Available |
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Ovals, cushions, checkerboards,
round brilliants, trillions, princess cuts, and
opposed bars. |
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| Enhancement |
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Much citrine starts its
life as pale amethyst that is heated to remove the
purple and develop its sunny yellow tones. |
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| Lore & History |
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In ancient times, citrine
was carried as a protection against snake venom
and evil thoughts. Named from the French name for
lemon, citron, most citrines have a light lemony
color. Sunny and affordable, citrine blends especially
well with the yellow gleam of polished gold. |
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| Toughness &
Hardness |
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The hardness of citrine
is 7 on the Mohs scale and it is quite tough. |
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| Care & Cleaning |
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Citrine is very durable
but try to avoid exposure to heat. Clean with warm
water, detergent, and a soft brush. Citrine can
be put in ultrasonic or steam cleaners. |
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| Price Range |
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$10 to $40 per carat |
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| Special Characteristics |
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Sometimes you will hear
citrine referred to as topaz quartz. Many yellow
gems have been called topaz over the years. Since
topaz is a separate mineral, the industry has ruled
to eliminate this name as confusing and misleading.
However, citrine is still considered an alternative
to topaz as the birthstone for November. |
