Citrin - What is citrin

Golden Citrine, the sunshine gem

Known as the sunny gemstone, citrine gets its name from the old French word citrin, meaning lemon-coloured. It is a yellow quartz, popular for its warm golden earth tones. Naturally occurring citrine is quite rare and is mined in several countries, including Bolivia, Madagascar, Uruguay, Mexico, and Spain.

Most citrine is made by heat-treating purple amethyst to achieve the desired golden colour. This amethyst-quartz is mostly found in the mines of Brazil. Citrine is highly versatile in jewelry, working beautifully in a solitaire ring, a statement pendant, or in multicoloured bracelets or necklaces.

Citrine colours: Lemon yellow to Madeira orange

Citrine is often mistaken for its twin gemstone, the topaz due to its yellow colour. The sunshine tones of citrine range from pale semi-transparent lemon, to a juicier yellow through to deeper amber or madeira orangey-red-brown.

In naturally occurring citrine, the yellow colour is caused by the iron content in the quartz and is almost always pale yellow. Although the deeper golden browns do occur, they are very rare and as a result highly expensive.

In heat-treated purple amethyst or smoky quartz, the colour turns a stunning golden yellow and the majority of citrine gems that are available and used in today’s jewelry are made this way. All the shades of this beautiful quartz are used to stunning effect in jewelry and looks stunning when set in gold, which emphasises the amber hues, while white gold and silver provide a striking contrast.

Intriguing facts about Citrine

Due to its availability in large sizes, citrine is used in bold, elaborate jewelry, as favoured by Hollywood celebrities Kate Winslet, Naomi Harris, Emma Watson and Tara Reid. Citrine is equally popular with royalty and adorns tiaras and other royal jewelry.
Citrine is well known for its positive and healing properties. With its warm golden colour, it reflects the powerful energy of the sun, uplifting, restoring, and energising. For this reason, it is said to help those suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder.
The gemstone is also associated with success and prosperity, with its aura of light, and is called the ‘merchant’s stone’.
Set in a bracelet, necklace, or ring, citrine is the perfect birthday gift to those born in November.
Ranked 7 on the Mohs scale, Citrine is durable and well suited to use in jewelry.
Our citrine collection of necklaces, bracelets and anklets at The Jewellery Room is a visual delight for admirers of beautiful gemstone jewelry.