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History and Lore
Named from
the French term for lemon
citron, many citrines have a juicy “lemon” colour.
In ancient
times, citrine was carried as a protection against snake
venom and evil thoughts.
Sometimes
you will hear citrine incorrectly referred to as topaz
quartz. Since topaz is a different mineral, the industry has
ruled to eliminate this name.
Along with
topaz, citrine is one of the US birthstones for November.
Quality, Value &Availability
Citrine
includes transparent quartz from yellow to “honey” orangey
brown.
Although
the darker orangey brown to reddish orange colour, called
Madeira citrine, has traditionally been the most valued,
recently the bright lemon color has been more popular.
Citrine is
generally more affordable than Amethyst, its quartz sibling.
Like all quartz gems, citrine is relatively plentiful and is
available in a wide range of sizes and shapes, including
very large sizes. Citrine is popular for designer cut and
carvings.
Sources
Most
citrine is mined in Brazil, particularly the state of Rio
Grande do Sul. It is also mined in Bolivia.
Routine Enhancements
Most
citrine on the market began as amethyst that was heated to
turn its colour to “gold”.
Care & Cleaning
Citrine
has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. It’s durable and
great for everyday wear.
Clean
citrine with soap dish soap : use a toothbrush to scrub
behind the stone where dust can collect.
Citrine
jewelry should be kept away from prolonged exposure to
strong light or heat.
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