November babies are lucky enough to have two gemstones to choose from as their birthstone. Citrine and topaz are both November birthstones and are both equally beautiful and unique. Let’s take a closer look at each of these gems and find out what makes them special.
November birthstone 1: Citrine
Citrine is a variety of quartz and the name derives from the French word for lemon (Citron). True to its name, citrine comes in a variety of yellow to orangy-yellow colours. The most popular hues are warm & sunny yellow and orange colours.
Traditionally believed to be a gift from the sun with healing properties, citrine is mined extensively in Bolivia, Spain, Madagascar, Mexico and Uruguay. On occasion, amethyst (another variety of quartz) from Brazil can be heat-treated and as citrine. In Bolivia, the Anahi mine produces a unique combination of amethyst and citrine in the same crystal, known as “Amertrine”.
With a hardness of 7 out of 10 on Moh’s Hardness Scale (Diamond, the hardest known gemstone, rates as 10/10), Citrine is relatively durable and is suitable for every day wear. As one of the most affordable semi-precious gems, large citrine gems are popular for show-stopping cocktail rings, earrings and pendants.
November birthstone 2: Topaz
Topaz is one of the most colourful of all known gemstones, and can be found in hues as diverse as colorless, light blue, orange, pink, yellow and brown (almost as many colours as sapphires!). Swiss topaz & London topaz popular topaz colours, but often these colours have been artificially induced by irradiating and heating colourless topaz.
Historically, ancient Greeks believed that topaz made them stronger and in India, locals believed that long life, beauty and intelligence was guaranteed if you wore topaz above your heart. Brazil is the world’s dominant topaz producer, but it is also mined in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Australia and Namibia.
Imperial topaz is perhaps the most prized variety of topaz available and its’ unique pinkish-orange colour is sought after by many gem collectors.
Despite a hardess of 8/10 on Moh’s Hardness Scale, topaz isn’t as tough as you may think and care should be exercised to avoid chipping or cracking the gem. Ultra-sonic cleaning is not recommended for topaz jewellery; instead warm, soapy water is recommended.
You may have heard of Mystic Topaz, which isn’t actually a naturally occurring form of topaz. Instead, the rainbow colour effect of Mystic Topaz is made by coating colourless topaz with artificial, coloured film. This film can easily be removed by abrasive cleaners or jewellery workshop buffing wheels.
Whichever November birthstone is your favourite, you can be assured that Katannuta Diamonds has all the shapes, sizes and hues you could possibly want, all at affordable prices. Why not contact us today to see our extensive range of November birthstones and allow us to design a bespoke piece of jewellery for you?
