November Birthstone Spotlight: Citrine

Now that November has rolled around, it’s time we turn our spotlight on the autumnal-colored citrine. The citrine is a form of quartz whose colors range from a pale yellow to a golden orange. It is the latter color that comes to mind when we talk about November’s birthstone.

Natural citrines are quite rare, but they can be found in a variety of areas such as Brazil, the Ural Mountains of Russia, in Dauphine, France, Spain, and parts of Madagascar. Citrine enjoyed a high level of popularity with the ancient Romans, who used this gemstone for jewelry and intaglio work. It was also a popular gem during the Art Deco period, when complex citrine jewelry designs adorned Hollywood stars such as Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford.

Although the name “citrine” is French, the term wasn’t used until 1556 and before that point citrine was referred to as yellow quartz. During the Medieval period, citrine was prized by Scots and Celts as a protective gem against ailments such as the plague, snake bite, and bad skin. Citrine, also called the merchant’s stone, was associated with wealth and success and was at one point kept in cash tills in order to attract money.

Shop our Wide Variety of Ladies Colored Gemstone Jewelry TodayThe world’s largest citrine, known as the Malaga, weights 20,000 carats and has exceptional clarity and color. Found in Brazil, the Malaga citrine was mined in the state of Minas Gerais. The stone was discovered in the late 1980s, but wasn’t cut until 2009. The Malaga citrine is currently part of the Programa Royal Collections of Spain.

With its sunny golden color, citrine makes for one of the perfect statement pieces for your fall attire. These oval citrine drop earrings from King Jewelers boast a stunning 24 carats of orange citrine that hang from delicate diamond strands.

Established in 1912, the King family has owned and operated King Jewelers for five generations while building an outstanding reputation steeped in quality, value, and first-class service. Today, King Jewelers has brick-and-mortar stores located in Aventura, FL and Nashville, TN, both of which have won numerous regional and national awards of distinction. Offering a magnificent selection of fine jewelry collections including the hottest Italian designs, estate jewelry, colored gemstones and fancy-colored diamonds, as well as luxury European timepieces, King Jewelers prides itself in being one step ahead of the trend. In addition, King Jewelers offers on-site jewelry and watch repairs, custom design services, appraisals, estate buying, and corporate gift programs. For more information, visit www.kings1912.com.