CITRINE:

Citrine is one of the accepted birthstones for November, as well as the anniversary gemstone for the 13th year of marriage.

In times of Olde, Citrine was used as a protective talisman against the plague, bad skin and evil thoughts.  It was also used as
a charm against snake bites and other venomous reptiles.  History denotes Citrine as symbolizing happiness because of its bright coloration. Folklore has it that Citrine aided the digestion process as well as removing toxins from the body.  It was also
thought to be useful in the treatment of depression, constipation and diabetes.  

Citrine derives its name from the French word "Citron" which means Lemon.

Gemstone Specifics:

Citrine belongs to the Quartz family.  There is a wide range of colors which can be in colors from light yellow to
dark yellow, and can grade down into the smokey brown color.  Citrine also comes in darker orange colors which
is called Madeira Citrine (after the color of wine).  Madiera Citrine is one of the most valued colors of Citrine.
Citrine also comes in shades of yellow green called Praisolite.

Natural Citrine derives its color from Iron, but many stones on the market today derive their color
from heat treatment.  Most of the Citrine on the market today started life as Amethyst.  Heat treated Amethyst turns
the stone to its golden color. 

The primary source of Citrine is Brazil.  The supply of Citrine on the world market is good, with much of it coming from the
Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. There is a large mine there called the Serra which produced approx. 300 Kilos per
month of raw mined stones.  There is also another mine called The Ira mine which produces an additional 100 Kilos per month
of raw mined stones. 

Much of the the color range of Citrine is very similar to that of Topaz.   This has lead to a widespread misuse of the term
"citrine topaz and quartz topaz" both of which are quartz.  



Caring for Citrine:

Citrine has a hardness of 7 and will stand up well to wear.   It is extremely popular, very collectible and affordable.
It will stand up well to daily wear and will keep for generations.

Keep your Citrine Jewelry clean by using a mild soap to wash your jewelry items.   Daily wear can deposit residues
and oils on the stone. A toothbrush with a dab of non-abrasive toothpaste will do wonders to return the sparkle to the stone.

Always remove your jewelry when doing housework or engaging in activities where there is risk the stone will be exposed
to impact or exposure to chemicals.  If you cannot remove your jewelry, protect it (and also your skin) by wearing rubber gloves.