Origins & Properties of Citrine
Adding a Splash of Orange
Citrine rings have shown a steady rise in popularity over the last couple of years. This gemstone is decidedly less expensive than fancy orange diamonds (although close treated versions exist.) Citrine has a beautiful range of hues, from pale lemon yellow to intense orange, with a characteristic warmth, unlike any other gemstone. Popular with Asian, Mediterranean and darker skin tones, the colour reflects the healthy warm glow of sunshine. The name itself originates from Citron, the french word for Lemon. The stone has a vitreous luster and presents wonderful opportunities for jewellery commissions.
Represents
Courage, Sincerity and Wisdom.
Birthstone
Citrine is the alternative birthstone for November.
Origins of Citrine
The gemstone originates from Quartz, and is most commonly found in shades of yellow. The deeper richer colours tend are the more desirable. Citrine is mined in areas such as Brazil, Spain, Bolivia, and Russia among other regions. The natural preparation of the gemstone usually involves heat, to improve colour. The colour itself derives from the presence of iron within the rock.
Clarity
Citrine rings tend to offer a level of clarity consistent with the high clarity diamonds that used. Regarding clarity, Citrine is usually very good, and the stone has a good resistance (toughness) to chipping and cracking. Resistance to wear is a beneficial property for use in engagement rings (available at Serendipity Diamonds by way of personalisation of many of the ring designs.
Cautionary Notes
Exposure to sudden, or extreme heat is sometimes damaging, especially during mounting / setting / repair work. Cleaning by steam is generally ill-advised, with ultrasonic cleaning being more advisable.
Works Beautifully with……
On a last note, Citrine works very nicely with white diamonds. Preferably F, G colour or higher. The contrast between a white halo of diamonds, (see image for example) adds a striking alternative to more traditional all-diamond designs. We can, however, use this gemstone in many of our commissions by way of creating a custom-made design.
About Mark Johnson
My name is Mark and I'm founder at Serendipity Diamonds. By day you'll find me working in our showroom—in a variety of roles. My work (which I love) ranges from photographing jewellery, to writing blog posts and helping clients with my colleagues Drina, Emily and Debbie.
