Citrine is the sunny stone. It runs from pale lemon to deep honey and orange, and it brightens almost anything it sits next to. Here is what citrine really is, what people have long said it means, and an honest note about how most of it is made.
What citrine is
Citrine is a yellow to orange variety of quartz. It rates about 7 on the Mohs scale, which is hard enough for everyday jewelry. The name comes from the French word for lemon, *citron*.
Natural citrine is rare. Most citrine you will see is amethyst or smoky quartz that has been heated until it turns yellow or orange. That is a common, accepted practice, and the stone is still quartz. It just helps to know. A trustworthy seller will tell you. Our guide to real vs fake gemstone beads lists the questions to ask.
What citrine traditionally means
Citrine is the traditional birthstone for November. In lore it stands for warmth, optimism and good fortune, and it is sometimes called the merchant's stone. These are traditional beliefs, and we share them as lore. They aren't medical claims, and a stone is not a substitute for professional care. For more stones, see our gemstone meanings guide and our plain guide to healing stones.
Citrine pieces from Ellie
The Multicolour Cluster Necklace has small clusters of Indian agate, citrine, freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystal and copper snake blue abacus beads spaced along white opal beads. It has a matching bracelet and matching earrings. The Citrine & Quartz Drop Choker is a wire-worked choker in warm citrine, amethyst and smoky quartz with freshwater pearls and crystal, centered on a large polished clear-quartz drop. The Agate, Citrine & Turquoise Twist Necklace twists natural stones in every color, citrine among them, and measures about 21 inches fully open.
Multicolour Cluster Necklace$110 CAD
Multicolour Cluster Bracelet with Lucky Charm$85 CAD
Multicolour Cluster Earrings$65 CAD
Citrine & Quartz Drop Choker$280 CAD
Agate, Citrine & Turquoise Twist Necklace$185 CAD
How to care for citrine
Citrine is tough, but strong heat and long hours in direct sun can fade the color of heat-treated stones, so store it out of the sun. Put it on after perfume and lotion, and wipe it with a soft dry cloth. Keep it away from harsh cleaners. Our care guide covers the rest.
Browse every piece
Everything is one of a kind and handmade by Ellie. See the full jewelry collection.
Related reading
- Opal meaning: what it is, what it stands for, and how to care for it
- Real vs fake gemstone beads: how to tell
- Amethyst meaning: what it is and what it stands for
Gemstone jewelry by Ellie
Every piece is one of a kind, strung and wired by hand in Canada.
Explore the jewelry →Sources used: general gemology references for quartz hardness, the name's French origin and heat treatment of amethyst and smoky quartz; the same traditional-lore sources as our gemstone meanings guide.