Citrine is the yellow variety of quartz – from pale lemon to rich golden and honey-brown. Its name comes from the French word citron – "lemon".
Rare in nature
Natural citrine is rare. Much of the citrine on the market is amethyst heated to a high temperature – the purple colour then turns to a warm yellow and orange. Such stones also form in nature, near volcanic springs, but in much smaller quantities.
The merchant's stone
Citrine is known as "the money stone" and "the merchant's stone". An old tradition advises merchants to keep a citrine in their till to attract customers and profit. That is why citrine is considered a talisman for business success and prosperity.
Symbolism
Citrine is one of the birthstones for November. With its sunny colour it is a symbol of:
- hope, joy and optimism;
- youth and vitality;
- success, wealth and generosity.
It is believed to bring luck to everyone, but above all to people in business.
In jewellery
Citrine is translucent, with warm sunny glints that look wonderful in gold and silver. It is ideal for rings, earrings and beaded bracelets – on its own or with amethyst, rock crystal and pearls. With a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale it is durable, but it is best protected from long exposure to strong sunlight.
