Citrine

Citrine is a variety of microcrystalline quartz, which is defined by its somewhat yellowish hues that result from the presence of ferrous iron within the quartz structure. Chemically-speaking, citrine only differs from amethyst by way of its iron oxidation level, and can, therefore, be produced by heating its purple counterpart. As amethyst tends to be more commonly encountered in nature, most citrine in the marketplace is actually “burnt amethyst”.

While its varietal name is derived from the French for “lemon”, citron, citrine is not to be confused with what we refer to by the trade name of “lemon quartz”. This lesser-known gem variety differs from citrine by way of its pure yellow or slightly greenish hues, which contrast with citrine’s more orangish yellows. In addition, the coloration of lemon quartz is always produced artificially via irradiation and subsequent heating, while citrine is only merely heated in the way described above.

Characteristics of Citrine

• Hardness: 7
• Color:  Yellow, yellow-brown, orange, dark orange-brown, reddish-brown
• Transparency: Transparent to translucent
• Chemical composition: SiO₂
• Crystal system: Hexagonal
• Tenacity: Brittle

History of Citrine

Citrine is a transparent, yellow variety of Quartz, ranging in colour from pale to golden yellow, honey or almost brown, and may contain rainbow or sparkle inclusions. The name comes from the French word citron, meaning lemon. It was used as a gem in Greece as far back as 300 B.C., and because of its colour, is sometimes mistakenly referred to as Gold Topaz, Madeira or Spanish Topaz, or Safranite. Much of the commercial Citrine on the market is heat-treated Amethyst or Smoky Quartz that produces an enhanced Citrine colour, usually a deeper amber or orange-reddish shade. Most Natural Citrine is a pale yellow colour.

Citrine has been used ornamentally for thousands of years. In fact, in Ancient Greece, the stone was used as a decorative gem during the Hellenistic Age between 300 and 150 B.C. In addition, 17th-century Scottish men used citrine on the handles of daggers and swords for decorative purposes. However, there is also a record of entire sword handles that were crafted from citrine. More recently, citrine was particularly popular during the Art Deco era between World War I and World War II. During this time, movie stars wore oversized and elaborate citrine jewelry.

Birthstone – Citrine

The Citrine is the official November birthstone. This beauty is known as the stone of happiness, joy, abundance, and personal will. If you’re all about ‘manifesting,’ then this is the most powerful fit for you. Many say that simply wearing this stone will lift your spirits and help you successfully achieve your goals. This is why women all over the world love to wear Citrine jewelry. It’s also recommended that you keep a Citrine in the “wealth” corner of your home or business in a “cash box”—and let those powers come into play.

Throughout history, Citrines were esteemed for their striking beauty and brilliance. This birthstone for November also symbolized the warm, bright sun and the vitality of life. The November birthstone’s color includes vibrant yellow hues and multi-dimensional clarity—which represents a healthy mind and body.

Citrine Formation

Natural citrines are rare. Most commercial citrine is heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz. Because the colour is now caused by finely distributed iron minerals (mostly hematite and goethite), heated amethyst is not a citrine in the strict sense. Quartz coloured by inclusions of any kind is not called a citrine.

Sources

Treatment of Citrine

Citrine in its most pure and natural form radiates a translucent yellow hue. The presence of iron oxide in the quartz is responsible for its captivating color. “Lemon quartz” is the name often used to refer to a naturally light-yellow citrine. A citrine, because of its color, is often mistaken for a yellow topaz.

Since natural and untreated citrines are extremely rare, amethyst and smoky quartz are frequently heat treated to obtain the coveted golden-yellow hue. Low temperature heat treatment (approximately 750 degrees Fahrenheit) results in a mild yellow hue, while high temperature (approximately 1700 degrees Fahrenheit) causes the amethyst or smoky quartz to turn into a deep orange to reddish-brown shade. This treatment is stable and is widely used for permanent color change. The citrines available at Angara are natural and are not enhanced in any way.

How to choose a Citrine?

Like all gemstones, there are four main factors that you should take into account when shopping for your ideal piece of citrine – color, cut, clarity and carat. Each are important and can add or detract from the value of your stone.

Color:

Citrine’s color is what distinguishes it from other gemstones and makes it easily identifiable. As a result, color is the most important factor when shopping for a citrine.

The most desirable color of a citrine is a rich brownish-orange color with semi-transparency, similar to the color of amber. It also resembles the pricier yellow diamond and yellow topaz.

Due to the rarity of natural citrine, much of the citrine found on the market today has been heat-treated to achieve the desired color. Heated citrine generally tends to display reddish tints.

Cut:

Citrine is an easy gemstone to cut and shape due to its composition. It can be cut in all the popular gemstone cuts, such as round, princess, emerald, and pear. Citrine is commonly faceted to bring out its light performance and to add depth to its appearance. It can sometimes be cut en cabochon to emphasize its smooth surface but this is rarer in jewelry.

Citrine can also be carved into various shapes and figures. This makes citrine a very versatile gemstone, much like jade. As a result, unique and stylish designs can be created out of citrine.

Clarity

Clarity refers to the number of visible inclusions present within the stone. Citrine can sometimes contain inclusions, but this is quite rare. In general, citrine has excellent clarity with most gemstones free of any visible inclusions. Any imperfections in citrine will generally decrease the value of the stone. Most retailers should disclose the clarity grade of the citrine.

When looking to buy a citrine, inspect the stone carefully from all angles for visible inclusions. If possible, check it under a few different light sources. Eye-clean stones are always considered the best, but you can sometimes take advantage of lower prices by looking for a stone with hidden imperfections.

Carat

Citrine comes in a variety of sizes but in general, citrine doesn’t increase in value with the increase in carat size. While it’s possible to find large sizes of the stone, note that these are almost always heat-treated amethyst and hardly ever natural citrine.

Benefits of Citrine