Citrine is an intriguing stone, known throughout history. It has been used in jewelry for thousands of years, such as in ancient Rome. Its color is reminiscent of the changing leaves on the trees, which makes it perfect for fall!
Citrine is known for its yellow to brown color. It gets this color from the iron present in its chemical makeup. It’s one of the most popular yellow gemstones.
Citrine and amethyst are relatives, both being members of the quartz family. Sometimes, they’ll grow together, creating striking gemstones with both purple and yellow coloration. These stones are known as ametrine.
Most citrine is heat treated to bring its color out. Many times, a piece of amethyst is heated to turn that beautiful shade of yellow!
Citrine was used in Victorian times to make jewelry, but quartz varieties have been used in jewelry for thousands of years. Citrine has been found in ancient Roman jewelry as well.
Citrine has historically been confused with topaz, due to its coloration.
The top sources for citrine are Bolivia, Spain, Madagascar, Mexico and Uruguay.
Citrine is a 7 on the Mohs scale, so it is considered a more durable stone, but can be scratched by diamonds. Steam cleaning can be risky for citrines, but warm soapy water is safe, as is an ultrasonic machine usually.
