Citrine
Quartz & Crystal Family
Citrine is the transparent yellow to brownish-orange variety of quartz. Natural material is uncommon and tends to be pale; its color is associated with defects or color centers in the quartz crystal structure.
Identity
- Material or variety
- Quartz
- Scientific or material identity
- Quartz
- Classification
- Natural mineral or mineral variety
- Composition or formula
- SiO₂
- Crystal system or structure
- Trigonal
- Geological or manufacturing origin
- Can form in more than one geological environment, or combines several materials.
- Mohs hardness
- 7
- Specific gravity
- 2.65
Origins
Bolivia · Brazil · Canada · Madagascar · Myanmar · Sri Lanka · Uruguay
Appearance & optical properties
warm honey-yellow transparent quartz.
History & discovery
The name passed through French citrin or citron from Latin citrus, referring to citron fruit and its yellow color. Citrine was often confused with topaz before modern mineralogy, appears in Roman jewelry, and became especially fashionable in colorful Victorian Scottish jewelry.
Uses & care
- Common uses
- Citrine is faceted or carved for rings, pendants, beads and other jewelry, and large clear pieces allow bold decorative cuts.
- Handling and cleaning
- Clean with warm soapy water. Avoid steam and abrupt temperature changes, which can cause fractures, and limit prolonged intense light because some color can fade.
Jewellery
5 pieces of Citrine jewellery. Learners earn each one in DigMyGem by learning words; until then it shows as a silhouette.
Merchant's Lantern Pendant
Pendant
An imagined pendant for a great merchant, since citrine was long called the merchant's stone and thought to bring prosperity. The stone is left open like a lantern.
Sunharvest Brooch
Brooch
An imagined brooch shaped as a sun's rays around one warm stone. Citrine is the November birthstone and the colour of ripe grain.
Amber Dawn Ring
Ring
An imagined ring set with a single honey-coloured stone. In earlier centuries golden quartz like this was often called topaz by mistake.
Queen of Norway's Crown
Crown
Made in Stockholm in 1830 for the planned coronation of Queen Desiree Clary, it was first worn in 1860 by Queen Louise. The silver-gilt and gold crown is set with violet amethysts, yellow citrine and topaz, green chrysoprase and pearls.
Harvest Sun Tiara
Tiara
An imagined gold tiara of golden citrines rising in a fan of rays to one great stone at the centre, made for a harvest festival queen.