The majesty of the November Birthstone Topaz and the cheerfulness of the November Birthstone Citrine belong to the ones born in November.
The November Birthstone topaz has an exceptionally wide color range that, in addition to brown, includes various tones and saturations of blue, green, yellow, orange, red, pink, and purple.
The Modern November Birthstone is the Citrine, one of my favorite stones. The Citrine is one of the most affordable and abundant gemstones on the market, even fine, large gems are modestly priced, which means everyone can find a citrine to fit their budget. These gems can be evaluated by the same factors as diamonds.
“Jewelry needs to fulfill the function for which it came into being. The only way that a Jewelry Designer will see its art in LIFE is with the eyes, the mind, and the heart of the Spectator.
The viewer in the last stroke in any jewelry piece”.
– Ines Arenas Jewelry Gallery
The finest November Birthstone citrine gems are saturated with yellow, orange, and reddish hues, while stones of lower value appear pale or smoky (my favorite color in this gem). The most valuable and expensive shades of topaz are deep orange with pink undertones called Imperial topaz. Russia’s Ural Mountains became a leading source of topaz in the 19th century.
The prized pinkish orange gemstone mined there was named Imperial topaz to honor the Russian czar, and only royals were allowed to own it.
Personally, I think that one gem isn\’t better than the other, both stones are two golden stars and it doesn\’t matter which one you decide to wear a beautiful lime citrine or a beautiful orange topaz, each one has its own pride and its own unique glory.
Happy Birthday! To the ones that have been born under the Majestic influences of the November Birthstone Topaz and the Citrine.
Best Option For November Birthstone
November Birthstone Topaz is #8 on the Mohs scale, and toughness is poor due to cleavage. Sources are Australia, Brazil, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar(Burma), Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and United States.
November Birthstone Citrine, #7 on the Mohs scale, is a quartz variety, and good in toughness. Sources are Bolivia, Brazil, Spain.
How To Choose the Best November Birthstone?
November Birthstone Topaz comes in a range of hues, including multi-colored stones.
Topaz has an exceptionally wide color range that includes various tones and saturations of blue, green, yellow, orange, red, pink, and purple. Colorless topaz is another option. The color varieties are often identified simply by hue: blue topaz, pink topaz, etc.
But there are also a couple of special trade names, such as:
• Imperial topaz: medium reddish-orange to orange-red, this is one of the most expensive colors.
• Sherry topaz: yellowish-brown or brownish yellow to orange. This term comes from the color of sherry wine. Stones in this color range are often called precious topaz to help distinguish them from the less expensive citrine and smoky quartz.
• Colorless or White Topaz: colorless or milky white topaz is the most commonly found in nature. The similarity in appearance and can be almost indistinguishable from diamonds. It is also popularly used as accent stones.
Because topaz is a brilliant stone, brilliant cuts such as round, princess, and modern cushion cuts suit the stone very well. However, to bring out the clarity and the color of the stone, gemstone cuts with open facets such as the emerald and Asscher cuts are stunning.
Topaz is easy to find in large sizes, meaning that whether you have minimalist or maximalist tastes, you can find a topaz to suit your style. While topaz is a relatively inexpensive gemstone, large topaz can command higher prices.
Be aware of the Topaz treatments and imitations. Topaz is commonly irradiated and heat-treated to obtain desirable topaz colors, especially blue, yellow, red, pink, and green. These treatments are generally stable and permanent, but there is the likelihood of the color fading when directly exposed to sunlight.
It is common for less expensive substances to be passed off as topaz such as glass, quartz, and other gemstones like citrine. This is why it’s important to request information about your topaz prior to purchase.
November Birthstone Citrine: like all gemstones, has four main factors that you should take into account when shopping for your ideal piece of citrine: color, cut, clarity, and carat. The 4 famous C\’.
Citrine’s color is what distinguishes it from other gemstones and makes it easily identifiable. As a result, color is the most important factor when shopping for a citrine. The most desirable color of a citrine is a rich brownish-orange color with semi-transparency, similar to the color of amber. It also resembles the pricier yellow diamond and yellow topaz.
Due to the rarity of natural citrine, much of the citrine found on the market today have been heat-treated to achieve the desired color. Heated citrine generally tends to display reddish tints.
Citrine\’s cut isn\’t a challenge for a good cutter due to citrine composition. It can be cut in all the popular gemstone cuts, such as round, princess, emerald, and pear. Citrine is commonly faceted to bring out its light performance and to add depth to its appearance. It can sometimes be cut en cabochon to emphasize its smooth surface. At the same time, citrine can be carved into various shapes and figures. This makes citrine a very versatile gemstone, as a result, unique and stylish designs can be created out of citrine.
The clarity in the citrines refers to the number of visible inclusions present within the stone. Citrine can sometimes contain inclusions, but this is quite rare. In general, citrine has excellent clarity with most gemstones free of any visible inclusions. Any imperfections in citrine will generally decrease the value of the stone. Most retailers should disclose the clarity grade of the citrine. When looking to buy a citrine, inspect the stone carefully from all angles for visible inclusions. If possible, check it under a few different light sources. Eye-clean stones are always considered the best, but you can sometimes take advantage of lower prices by looking for a stone with hidden imperfections.
And finally but not less important is the Citrine Carat, which comes in a variety of sizes but in general, citrine doesn’t increase in value with the increase in carat size. While it’s possible to find large sizes of the stone, note that these are almost always heat-treated amethyst and hardly ever natural citrine.
Sometimes other less valuable materials can be passed off as citrine. One common citrine imitator is glass, making you feel after the purchase very frustrating. A great way to tell is to look at your stone in the light. If you see any visible inclusions or air bubbles, your stone is probably not authentic.
We’ve already discussed how amethyst and smoky quartz are heat-treated to imitate citrine’s look. But how can you tell if this is the case with your stone?
It is easy to determine whether your stone is a natural citrine or a citrine made by heat treatment. A heat-treated citrine will have darker tips with the color receding down from there.
Another important point is that naturally occurring citrine has dichroic coloring, meaning that different colors can be visible from different angles. This is something that heat-treated citrine will not possess.
And finally, always ask about the origin and authenticity of the stone.
How To Take Care of Your November Birthstone Jewelry?
Cleaning your November Birthstone topaz is as simple as warm soapy water and a clean dry cloth. This removes the grime and dirt that accumulates on the surface of the stone, restoring its shine.
Due to the hardness of topaz, it is important to store it separately or inside a soft cloth. This will protect your other stones from being scratched by topaz’s hard surface and also protect your topaz from being scratched by harder stones such as your diamonds or sapphires.
It is a good idea to remove your topaz before working out, applying makeup, or cleaning the house, as sweat, chemicals such as chlorine, ammonia, and detergents, and other foreign specks of dust and liquids can damage the quality of your stone.
Caring for your November Birthstone citrine is an important thing to learn about because improper care can cause the stone to grow dull and lead to a loss in value.
To clean your stone simply use a small, soft bristle toothbrush, a small amount of mild liquid soap, and lukewarm water. Gently scrub your stone and the setting off with the brush and the soap and rinse thoroughly.
Another great tip to preserving your stone’s value is to store it apart from your other gemstones. This will keep citrine from scratching softer gemstones like pearls or opals and from being scratched by harder gemstones such as sapphires or diamonds.
When storing citrine, wrap it in a cloth or jewelry box. This keeps it free from dust.
Keep citrine away from chemicals such as harsh detergents, bleach, and cosmetics. It is always best to take off any citrine jewelry when handling chemicals or engaging in outdoor/physical activities.
