Happy Birthday November: All about Topaz and Citrine

People with November birthdays are lucky, as they have two beautiful stones from which to choose. The topaz and the citrine are two wonderful and beautiful golden colored stones that represent the eleventh month.

Photo by Mauro Cateb (Flickr)

Topaz

Topaz originates from a word that means "fire." The stone comes in several different yet beautiful colors: brown, black, red, pink, several shades of yellow, orange, purple, blue and light green. The different colors are come from different minerals that form within the crystals. The topaz is a great stone for many pieces of jewelry because it is a hard stone, yet it is very clear and colorful.

The History of Topaz

Ancient people believed that the topaz could control heat. They believed that it had the ability to cool water that was boiling, and could also calm an angry person. Many clergymen and royalty wore the stone in the Middle Ages. They believed that it gave them goodwill whenever worn. Ancient Romans and ancient Egyptians felt that the topaz gave them healing powers that were retrieved from the sun god Ra and put into the golden stone. These powers were believed to heal the sick and protect the well. They also believed that it gave the wearer happiness.

Occasionally topaz was used when someone was sick and had a fever, and was placed in their medication. When someone was having trouble with their sight, a topaz was put into wine for days, then that wine was doused onto the eyes. It was also believed to make the wearer wise and help keep the brain healthy and ward off mental illness. The most sought-after color topaz is the orange stone that has pink undertones that give it a great body and color. This Imperial topaz is named after the Russian Czars in the 1800's.

Topaz Mines

Most topaz stones are found in Brazil, but they are also found in Sri Lanka, Scotland, Ukraine, Russia, Pakistan and Japan. There are also some stones that have been found in California and Colorado in the US. Originally found on an island called Topazios in the Mediterranean during ancient times, there was another similar stone mined there as well. It was called Citrine and was often confused with the topaz.

Citrine

The citrine is derived from a French word that means "lemon" because of its bright yellow color. It is a stone that varies in color from a light pastel yellow to a bright orange to a brownish orange. While the natural citrine stone is a rare find, amethysts and smoky quartz stones can also be treated with heat to form the citrine stone. When the stone is formed from the amethyst, it will have tiny lines within the body of the stone, while the natural citrine will have a more cloudy appearance.

The History of Citrine

During ancient history, the citrine stone was thought to protect against venom from snakes, and also from evil thoughts. Throughout history, the meaning has changed to be more encouraging for a businessman's success and wealth. Ancient Romans believed that it was beneficial to the body through the muscular system, the digestive system and the cardiovascular system as well. Currently referred to as the "healing quartz," the citrine is rumored to encourage vitality, support a healthy lifestyle and give hope and positive energy to the wearer. It is also thought to help the creative juices flow, brain clarity, and rid the consciousness of the strange desire for self-destruction.

Citrine Mines

The citrine is an affordable stone because there are many that are naturally found in the earth. The most frequent place to mine the stone is Bolivia and Spain; while the most citrine stones are found in the Sierra mine in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The availability of the citrine allows it to be an affordable stone for jewelry. It is also very durable, making it ideal for many different pieces of jewelry.