Citrine: The Sunshine Stone for Grey Days (November Birthstone)

Citrine is November's birthstone, a warm golden quartz that feels like bottled sunlight when the days turn grey. Here is what real Citrine is, why so much of it is heated Amethyst, the natural Madeira tones I love, and how I like to wear this cheerful stone all season long.

By Valerya | 5 min read

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

Citrine is a birthstone for November, a warm golden yellow that feels like bottled sunlight
It is a variety of quartz, with a comfortable hardness of 7 that wears well every day
Much of the Citrine on the market is heat-treated Amethyst, but natural Citrine exists, and I love the warm honey tones of natural Madeira Citrine
Yellow is one of the most mood-lifting colors, which makes Citrine a genuinely cheerful stone to wear

What’s Inside

A Little Sunshine for November
What Real Citrine Is
How I Like to Wear Citrine
Citrine as a November Gift
Citrine FAQ

A Little Sunshine for November

By November the days are getting short and the light turns thin and grey. I think that is exactly why Citrine is such a perfect birthstone for the month. It is warm and golden, like keeping a small square of afternoon sun with you when the real thing is in short supply. The Citrine meaning people have loved for centuries is all about warmth and good cheer, which suits the darkest month beautifully. Citrine actually shares November with Topaz, but the golden one is the stone I reach for most.

Citrine gets its name from the French word for lemon, and the GIA places it in the big, friendly quartz family. It has been loved for centuries as a happy, hopeful little stone, and it really is hard to feel gloomy looking at that color.

Curious about the other months? My birthstone jewelry guide covers them all.

What Real Citrine Is

Here is something worth knowing before you shop. A large share of the Citrine you see is actually Amethyst that has been heated until its purple turns golden. That is a real and stable transformation, and heated Citrine is genuine quartz, so there is nothing wrong with it. I just believe you should know what you are buying.

Natural Citrine also exists, and it tends to have a softer, warmer honey tone. I am especially fond of natural Madeira Citrine, named for its rich, wine-touched golden color. Whichever kind you choose, Citrine is a hardy quartz at a hardness of 7, so it takes everyday wear in stride.

WHAT CUSTOMERS SAY

“Gorgeous earrings, vibrant colors and great quality. I love them!”

– Dorothy S., on the Sunset Earrings

Multi Gemstone Orange Red Drop Colorful Earrings

How I Like to Wear Citrine

Golden yellow is a gift to your wardrobe in the colder months. It glows against camel coats, cream knits, deep green, and warm brown, and it looks especially rich set in gold, where the metal and the stone seem to melt into each other.

There is also a real lift that comes with wearing yellow. It is one of the most cheerful colors we respond to, which is a big part of why I reach for Citrine when the season turns grey. If you enjoy the idea of choosing stones by feeling, you might like my post on the psychology of gemstone colors.

“I reach for Citrine most on the grey days. It carries that after-a-cold-walk kind of light, the sort that stays with you a while.”

Citrine as a November Gift

Citrine has an old reputation as a stone of joy and abundance, sometimes even called the merchant’s stone for the good fortune it was said to bring. Whether or not you believe the folklore, giving someone a piece of sunshine as the days go dark is a truly kind gesture.

It suits a November birthday beautifully, but it also makes a warm little pick-me-up gift for anyone who could use some brightness. If you have a particular golden tone in mind, from pale lemon to deep Madeira, just let me know and I will find it.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Citrine FAQ

Is most Citrine really heated Amethyst?

A lot of it is, yes. Heating Amethyst turns it a golden color, and the result is stable, genuine quartz. Natural Citrine exists too and often has a softer honey tone. Neither is fake, and a good seller will simply tell you which you are getting.

Is Citrine durable enough for daily wear?

It is. As a quartz, Citrine has a hardness of 7, so it stands up nicely to everyday jewelry. Keep it out of very harsh sunlight for long stretches and it will hold its cheerful color for years.

What is Madeira Citrine?

Madeira Citrine is a deeper, richer golden Citrine named after the fortified wine it resembles. It leans toward warm amber and orange rather than pale lemon, and it is one of my favorite tones to set in gold.

Can you make a custom Citrine piece?

Gladly. If you have a golden shade in mind, pale and sunny or deep and honeyed, send me a note through my custom orders page and I will track down the right stone for you.

BOTTLE A SUNBEAM