November's Birthstone: Citrine

Hailing from the Quartz Family, Citrine generally presents in lovely light yellow to deep orangey hues, and is the most popular gemstone in that range. Quartz has been used in jewelry for thousands of years. 

 Confused with Topaz in the early days of gemology, the Citrine is an attractive substitute for both Topaz and Yellow Sapphire, although it is a gemstone in its own right. Natural Citrines can be fairly rare; however, the rich hue and durability of the gemstone can be worth the search. 

Because of the structure of the Citrine, crystals occur in a wide range of sizes. This means that sizes up to 20 carats are easily found in jewelry. Many high end jewelry designs are stone carvers often use the Citrine for Fantasy and unusual cuts.