Why November Has Two Birthstones - Topaz and Citrine

The birthstone for November is topaz, but there’s another gem that sometimes gets included in this month’s list of birthstones - citrine. What’s the difference between the two? Let’s take a look at what both of these natural gemstones are, how they’re alike, and how they differ from one another!

Why there are two birthstones in November

November is the month that has two birthstones: November's birthstones are topaz and citrine. The reason there are two different stones is because of the different origins of these stones. The topaz originates from Persia, while the citrine comes from India. These two gems were discovered in ancient times and became popularized during Roman times. They both look very similar with the exception of their color. So next time you see someone with a November birthday who has an orangey-yellow ring on their finger, they might not be telling you they're a Taurus--they might just like this gemstone!

 

Citrine: November's Birthstone

November's birthstone natural citrine stone is traditionally given to celebrate the month's harvest. It is believed that it was first used as a gemstone during the Roman Empire, but its use became more widespread in medieval times. The word citrine comes from the French word citron, which means lemon, because of the yellow-orange color of this gem. With so many colors ranging from lemon to gold and green, there are many reasons why November has two birthstones: topaz for her sunny disposition, and citrine for her taste buds. As with other birthstones, you can find a wide variety of styles on our website including studs and pairs.

 

Topaz: November's Birthstone

Another November's birthstone high-quality topaz is a stone that symbolizes strength, courage, and love. The most valuable color of topaz is deep gold but the lighter colors are more popular because they can be found in many places. One of the most famous locations for topaz mining was near Mount Ida in Greece. Today, this location still produces some of the finest topaz available. There are also deposits found in Brazil, Nigeria, and Russia.

Topaz has a hardness rating of 8 on the Mohs scale which makes it suitable to use as a ring stone or pendant even though it will scratch with time from normal wear.

Topaz jewelry has been admired since antiquity because it is relatively easy to cut into beautiful shapes for use as cabochons or gemstone beads to form necklaces or bracelets.

 

Conclusion

Topaz is the traditional birthstone of November, while citrine is a modern addition, adopted because it has so much in common with topaz. Both are light yellow in color, both have a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale and both are symbolized by the zodiac sign Scorpio. While topaz comes from an Arabic word meaning golden, citrine gets its name from the French word citron which means lemon.