The Ultimate Citrine Gemstone Handbook

Citrine, a member of the crystalline quartz family of minerals, showcases a charming yellow hue reminiscent of topaz, which makes it popular for jewelry. True natural citrine is rare, sourced only from the Ural Mountains in Russia or Madagascar. Historically, it has adorned objects such as sword handles from 300 to 150 BC and has been believed to offer protection and attract success and wealth. Modernly, citrine serves as the birthstone for November. When selecting citrine, clarity, and color, along with authenticity and size are key considerations as the stone lacks a standardized grading system.

What is Citrine?

Citrine hails from the quartz family, composed of oxygen and silicon atoms arranged uniquely. Although quartz exhibits various colors, citrine is distinguished by its yellow shade, which might have brown, red, or orange undertones. Its name originates from the French word for lemon, “citron.” Sometimes, citrine is called topaz quartz due to its likeness to the other yellow gemstone.

Traditionally, citrine was incorporated into jewelry and weapons for protective purposes, believed to ward off evil and snake bites. Historical pieces often featured natural citrine, now rare. Today’s citrine market primarily contains heat-treated amethysts, a process mirroring the natural development of citrine, rendering the resulting gem almost indistinguishable from true citrine. Citrine items often serve as birthstone pieces for November or as gifts for the thirteenth anniversary. Antique citrine jewelry from the 1940s also remains popular.

With a hardness ranking of seven on the Mohs scale, citrine is relatively durable compared to a diamond’s ten and ideal for jewelry. Its warm, rich color varies from pale yellow to earthy umber. Citrine accessories include necklaces, rings, earrings, and bracelets, making it versatile for everyday wear due to its neutral color, myriad shapes, and strength.

Citrine Shapes

Yellow citrine is available in a wide range of cuts due to its relative ease of shaping and cutting. The market offers fancy cuts like marquise or baguette, and citrine may also be cut en cabochon, featuring a polished, rounded surface with a flat back. The stone is suitable for custom carvings.

However, since citrine is not exceptionally refractive, the most prevalent cut is the round cut, which enhances its brilliance and adds depth. A round solitaire citrine, with its numerous facets, boosts light refractivity and shine.

Citrine Sizes

Given the rarity of natural citrine, large specimens are uncommon. Nonetheless, heat-treated amethyst citrine is available in different sizes.

Smaller citrines may exhibit a deeper color, making them ideal for rings. Citrines come in both small and large carat sizes, where carat impacts price less significantly.

Citrine Colors

Color is a critical factor when choosing citrine. The gemstone can present various yellow tones, some mixed with brown and orange, similar to topaz. The preferred color is a saturated yellow, neither pale nor murky.

Citrine with orange flashes instead of red or brown is generally more valuable. Contemporary markets may equally prize reddish and amber-like citrines, known as Madeira-colored for their golden, reddish-orange shades.

Avoid citrines that are pale or bear noticeable brown inclusions, referred to as “smoky” toned.

Citrine Clarity

When choosing citrine, ensure it is “eye-clean,” meaning imperfections or inclusions are not visible to the naked eye. As a type-2 gem, citrine naturally has minimal inclusions, leading to many eye-clean market pieces.

The high clarity highlights the stone’s color uniformity and absence of zoning or color variations.

Citrine Sourcing

Natural citrine is scarce, predominantly mined from Russia’s Ural Mountains, though these sources are nearly depleted. Other regions such as Madagascar, France, and the Congo also yield citrine.

Minas Gerais in Brazil produces quality specimens as well but is more known for heat-treated amethyst citrine, more accessible on the market than naturally occurring citrine.

Citrine Certification

Citrine isn’t generally subject to certification. Most labs won’t certify it, but there are ways to determine authenticity.

Be wary of bubbles, which indicate colored glass rather than genuine citrine. Citrine may also be lab-created from man-grown quartz with added minerals or chemicals to alter its color.

Modern citrine is often heat-treated from amethyst and difficult to distinguish from natural citrine. This standard practice, ongoing for over two millennia, doesn’t need disclosure. The process is akin to the natural formation, making heat-treated citrine a viable option for average buyers.

Citrine Treatments

Amethyst frequently undergoes heat treatment to mimic citrine and is marketed simply as citrine. Naturally occurring citrine can also be heat-treated to enhance its color depth.

Heat-treated citrine and natural citrine share nearly identical molecular properties, both exposed to heat albeit in distinct environments, one in the ground and the other in a mine.

Citrine Buying Guide

Budget First

Start with a budget and stick to it. Citrine is relatively affordable, offering various shapes, sizes, and colors likely within your price range.

Select a Shape

Citrine’s ease of cutting allows for numerous design possibilities. Choose from classic round cuts, fancy cuts, personalized shapes and more. Select a size.

Quality Above All Else

Without a grading standard, citrine shopping focuses on quality. Ensure the stone appears eye-clean, the color is to your liking, and the cut meets your preferences.

In-Store or Online

While in-store visits allow firsthand gem examination, the selection may be more limited than online. Reputable online sources with fair return policies typically offer a broader range of stone cuts, colors, and jewelry designs.