November’s Birthstones: Topaz and Citrine
November babies are a lucky bunch because the November birthstones, citrine and topaz, come in a dazzling array of colours and are relatively affordable. So November babies, go ahead and drop hints about a beautiful piece of birthstone jewelry in the colour of your choice! With a wide range of hues and styles, there are plenty of options to choose from.
From the mountains of Russia to Finders Island, Australia, topaz is found all over the world. Pakistan, Brazil, and Sri Lanka are some of the leading sources of topaz. And fun fact: Topaz Mountain in Utah was named after its abundance of the mineral!
Like topaz, citrine is found across the globe, as it is a variety of quartz. And quartz is the most abundant mineral on earth.
Topaz was the original birthstone, but citrine was later added as a more affordable option.
Citrine is a quartz gemstone found in golden shades ranging from pale yellow to deep
brownish orange. As one of the more affordable gems, citrine makes for a good choice if you want an eye-catching ring or pendant with a larger gemstone.
This gem is also known as “healing quartz,” because legend has it that citrine promotes vitality and energy in whomever wears it. And, according to the Chinese feng shui philosophy, citrine creates wealth and abundance.
The name for “Citrine” comes from the Latin root for “lemon,” and it’s no wonder that this sunny and golden stone has been thought to be a healing crystal that brings happiness, health, energy, and prosperity.
Facts About Topaz: Symbol of Love in Favorite Hues
The topaz birthstone symbolizes love and affection, and is said to bestow strength and intelligence on the person who wears it and a gift of blue topaz is said to be a promise of love and fidelity.
Both of the November birthstones have a royal advocate in the Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine. If you glimpsed her engagement photos with Prince William you may have assumed that her glittery pavé drop earrings were diamond, but they were actually made of white topaz. The Duchess also has a favourite pair of cushion-cut citrine drop earrings by Kiki McDonough, a popular British jewelry designer, and has appeared in
white topaz and blue topaz earrings by McDonough.