November Birthstones-Citrine and Topaz-a tragic love for a play on words

Topaz and Citrine are hot stones to keep you November babies warm if you choose to stand on balconies to watch any fireworks or family feuds unfold.

Sometimes misidentified as each other in their yellow form, Citrine is a yellow variety of quartz and Topaz is a silicate mineral and a more valuable gemstone. Topaz can display similar strength to corundum (the gem family that includes Ruby and Sapphire) but can fracture under excessive pressure. To add to the confusion Amethyst, after heat treatment, can be turned yellow masquerading as Citrine in disguise. These ‘burnt amethysts’ or artificial Citrines can be identified by a tinge of red. Citrine can be found in a range of yellow to dark reddy/brown shades. While Topaz has a wider colour palate of yellow, green, pink, orange and the rare blue with its purest form occurring as a colourless stone.

Two gemstones, both alike in clarity, in fair November where we lay our scene.

Many a jeweller tells their own story of love for these gems, though with the potential mistaken identity, the makers’ tale doesn’t have to have to have a Shakespearean tragic ending.

Earrings and ring in Citrine by Chris Boland. With his bold yet transparent technique of setting, what you see is what you get and what you get is a neat treat.

The honey coloured hexagonal topaz formations for this Alexander McQueen beehive cuff would make any worker feel like a queen.

Ryan Nelson has pincered an icy blue Topaz in place at opposite corners to look create this industrially striking ring. Whereas this roughly set pink topaz ring with rose gold from by Angeline has a softer appearance.

Please excuse one last attempt at wordy theatricals for these two heroes of our romantic tale, if I conclude with…

Never was a story of more glow than this of Citrine and Topaz(eo).

If you feel like these gems in any other frame should surely be as sweet, try one of our stone setting courses.