Citrine

(si-treen)

 HISTORY and LORE

• According to old legends, has the power to guard its wearer from evil thoughts.
• Name comes from Latin citrus meaning citron, a fruit related to lemon, lime, and orange.
• Birthstone for November and gem for the 13^th wedding anniversary.

VALUE FACTORS

• Color: Light yellow to dark orange (sometimes brownish). Most expensive is rich deep “Madeira” orange.
• Clarity: Often almost inclusion free.
• Cut: Faceted in many shapes and styles. Also cabochons, carvings, fantasy cuts and beads.
• Carat Weight: Normally available in a very wide size range (up to 50 carats or more). One of the world’s biggest transparent faceted gems is a citrine that weighs 19,548 carats – or about 8.5 pounds.

TREATMENT

• Almost all citrine is produced by heat-treating pale amethyst. The process duplicates natural heating that can occur in the Earth.  The effects are normally permanent, and the treatment creates no special care requirement.

GEMOLOGY

• A variety of quartz, the most abundant mineral species in the Earth’s crust.
• Composed almost entirely of silicon and oxygen: chemical formula SiO₂.
• Sometimes confused with – or misrepresented as – topaz because of color similarity.  Terms such as “citrine topaz” and “topaz quartz” and misnomers.

CARE

Citrine generally has good wearablility.

• Hardness: Moderate scratch resistance. Rates 7 on the Mohs Hardness Scale.
• Toughness: Good resistance to chipping and breaking.
• Stability: No routine concerns for gem owners.
• Cleaning: Liquid cleaner, or detergent and water. Ultrasonic is usually safe.