The November birthstones are topaz and citrine, two gems that GIA describes as bringing fortune and warmth to the wearer. They were confused with each other for centuries, but they are quite different minerals, each with its own colours, folklore and care needs. In this guide from Wanderlust Jewelry we look at both.
November birthstones at a glance
- Topaz: a mineral in its own right, in a very wide range of colours; 8 on the Mohs scale but with poor toughness.
- Citrine: the yellow to orange variety of quartz; 7 on the Mohs scale with good toughness.
- Anniversaries: blue topaz for the 4th, Imperial topaz for the 23rd, and citrine for the 13th wedding anniversary.
Topaz: far more colours than you think
Topaz has an exceptionally wide colour range, including colourless, blue, brown, yellow, orange, pink, red and purple. Colourless topaz is plentiful, and most of the blue topaz you see began colourless.
Topaz shades you may come across:
- Blue topaz: hardly ever naturally blue; colourless topaz is usually irradiated and then heated to give a stable blue. Trade names describe the shade: Sky Blue (light aqua blue), Swiss Blue (bright medium blue) and London Blue (the deepest, darkest blue).
- White topaz: colourless topaz.
- Pink topaz: natural pink topaz owes its colour to chromium; heat treatment is also used to turn some yellow, orange or brown topaz pink.
- Mystic topaz: colourless topaz with a thin multicoloured coating on its surface. The coating can scratch, so it needs gentle care.
One name to be careful with: smoky topaz is a misleading trade name usually used for smoky quartz, which is a different mineral altogether.
Topaz name and beliefs
GIA notes that most authorities trace the name topaz to Topazios, the old Greek name for a small island in the Red Sea. Curiously, the island never produced topaz; it was a source of peridot. Some scholars instead link the name to a Sanskrit word meaning fire.
- The ancient Greeks believed topaz gave them strength.
- From the 1300s to the 1600s, Europeans thought it could break magic spells and dispel anger.
- For centuries, many people in India have believed that topaz worn above the heart brings long life, beauty and intelligence.
Caring for topaz
Topaz is hard but has a cleavage direction, so a hard knock can split it. Protective settings help, and it is especially well suited to pendants and earrings. Clean it with warm water and mild soap, and avoid steam and ultrasonic cleaners, high heat and sudden temperature changes. Coated topaz should never be cleaned with abrasives.
Citrine: golden quartz
Citrine is the yellow to red-orange variety of quartz, from light lemon yellow to deep Madeira orange. Its name is believed to come from the French word for lemon, citron.
Natural, unheated citrine is uncommon. Most citrine on the market is amethyst (or smoky quartz) that has been heat-treated to a yellow-orange colour, a practice fully accepted in the gem trade. GIA notes that the amethyst heated to make citrine is mostly mined in Brazil, and lists other citrine sources including Bolivia, Spain, Madagascar, Mexico and Uruguay.
You may also see lemon quartz, a bright, slightly greenish-yellow quartz typically made by irradiating and heating colourless quartz.
Citrine beliefs
Because citrine was long confused with topaz, it was traditionally credited with topaz's powers. People believed it could soothe tempers and calm the wearer, and today many people wear its sunny colour as a symbol of warmth and good fortune.
Caring for citrine
With a hardness of 7 and good toughness, citrine handles normal wear well and can be used in any type of jewellery, including rings. Warm, soapy water is the recommended way to clean it; avoid steam cleaning and high heat, which can crack the stone or fade heat-treated material.
These are traditional beliefs, not proven effects, and are no substitute for medical advice.
Topaz or citrine?
- For blue: choose topaz, in sky, Swiss or London blue.
- For golden yellow to orange: citrine is the natural choice, and it is the more forgiving of the two for an everyday ring.
- For pendants and earrings: both are lovely.
See our jewellery care guide for more tips.
Shop the November birthstones
At Wanderlust Jewelry South Africa our founders hand-pick pieces from artisans in India, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia and Hong Kong, along with pieces made in South Africa. Rings over R2,000 include a free first resize within 30 days, words and symbols are priced in the engraving box as you type.
Browse our topaz jewellery, citrine jewellery, or the full November birthstone collection.