Origin/ Folklore
Getting its name from the French word for lemon, citrine comes in a variety of colors from vibrant yellow to a golden amber. Throughout history, citrine has been mistaken for topaz; even being referred to as Gold Topaz, Madeira, and Spanish Topaz. These warm gemstones are thought to manifest wealth and prosperity, along with encouraging imagination and sparking new beginnings. Between 300-150 b.c. citrines were commonly found on the handles of swords and daggers in Scotland. Ancient Greeks would carve iconic images into citrine gems while Roman Priests would sport them in rings.
Components
Citrine is a variety of quartz and gets its vivacious yellow color from traces of iron in the quartz. While citrine may seem to be in abundance, untreated citrine is rare and very valuable. Natural citrine is a pale yellow that has more brown tones than most of the treated citrine on the market. Citrine often gets its color by applying heat to other quartz stones like amethyst or Smokey Quartz. Citrines are a 7 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making them a reasonably durable gemstone for jewelry.
Citrine Jewelry
Citrines can be found in practically any type of jewelry and can make for some really striking pieces. Citrine jewelry is popular with fashion conscious women who are looking to expand their leisure and work jewelry wardrobe. Like quartz, citrines are available in large sizes, making them a good candidate for intricate and dramatic cuts. Citrine has great clarity and can often be found with no visible inclusions.
Citrine is one of the most loved and sought after semi-precious gemstones, next to topaz, probably because of its range of colors and great clarity. You can browse our collection of citrine jewelry from our Palm Harbor studio. Please call or stop in or use our custom design center to inquire about designing a piece of custom citrine jewelry, or for a free quote on citrine jewelry repairs. (727)-785-9624