November has two birthstones: topaz and citrine. Topaz is the older choice and comes in many colors, from golden yellow and orange to pink and blue. Citrine is a yellow to brownish orange quartz. The two look alike in their warm autumn shades, were long mistaken for each other, and are among the more affordable birthstones.
What is the birthstone for November?
Topaz is the original November stone. Citrine was added when the American list was revised in 1952, and both now appear on the lists of Jewelers of America and the American Gem Society.
It is the same in Britain, where the National Association of Jewellers gives topaz as the traditional gemstone and citrine as the alternative.
To see what goes with a particular November day, or any other, enter the date: the tool returns its stones, flower and zodiac signs.
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Topaz and citrine at a glance
| Topaz | Citrine | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The mineral topaz | Yellow to brownish orange quartz |
| Colors | Colorless, blue, yellow, orange, pink, violet, brown; red is very rare | Yellow to brownish orange |
| Mohs hardness | 8 | 7 |
| Toughness | Poor: can chip or crack | Good |
| Usual treatment | Blue is made by irradiating and heating colorless topaz | Most is heat-treated amethyst |
| Price level | From modest (blue, colorless) to high (imperial) | Modest |
Topaz: the traditional November birthstone
Topaz gets its color from trace elements and tiny imperfections in the crystal, which is why the range is so wide. Brown and colorless stones are common. The colors most prized are the reddish orange to orange-red known as imperial topaz, which the Gemological Institute of America describes as mined commercially in a single area, around Ouro Preto in Brazil, and natural pinks and reds.
Blue topaz deserves a note, because it fills jewelry stores. Blue is hardly ever natural in topaz: it is almost always produced by irradiating and then heating colorless stones. The result is permanent, and the abundance of material keeps blue topaz inexpensive. "Mystic" topaz is colorless topaz with a thin artificial coating that creates a rainbow effect.
Brazil's state of Minas Gerais has been the leading source for more than two centuries. Topaz also comes from Pakistan, known for pink stones, and from Namibia, Nigeria, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and the United States.
Citrine: the sunny alternative
Citrine is transparent quartz in yellow to brownish orange, a close relative of amethyst. In fact most citrine on the market began as amethyst: heating turns the purple to yellow. The treatment is standard and stable, and it is why citrine is plentiful and reasonably priced even in large sizes.
Natural, unheated citrine is rarer. One notable source is the Anahí mine in Bolivia, which also yields ametrine, a crystal that is half amethyst and half citrine. Heat-treated material comes mostly from Brazil. The name may come from the French citron, "lemon."
What do the November birthstones mean?
The name topaz may come from the Sanskrit tapas, "fire," or from the Greek topazos. Its lore is about strength and a cool head:
- The ancient Greeks believed topaz gave them strength.
- From the 1300s to the 1600s, Europeans thought it could break magic spells and dispel anger.
- In India it was long held that topaz worn above the heart brought long life, beauty and intelligence.
Because citrine was so often taken for topaz, it inherited the same reputation, in particular for soothing tempers and calming its wearer.
None of this has any basis beyond tradition: neither stone can alter a mood or lengthen a life. Today both are simply read as stones of warmth, which suits a birthday at the dark end of the year.
How to care for topaz and citrine
Topaz is hard but not tough: a sharp knock can chip it or split it.
- Clean it with warm, soapy water.
- Do not use steam or ultrasonic cleaners.
- Avoid high heat and sudden temperature changes, which can cause internal breaks.
- Keep yellow-to-brown stones out of prolonged sunlight, which may fade them.
- For coated "mystic" topaz use only mild soap; abrasive cleaners and polishing wheels remove the coating.
Citrine is easier.
- Warm, soapy water is safe, and an ultrasonic cleaner is usually fine.
- Avoid steam cleaning, because high heat could crack the stone.
- At 7 on the Mohs scale it suits daily wear, though it will pick up scratches over the years.
Gift ideas for a November birthday
- A citrine pendant or cocktail ring gives a large, bright stone at a modest price.
- Golden topaz earrings sit safely out of the way of knocks.
- A topaz ring should have a setting that protects the stone, and is best taken off for manual work.
- Blue topaz suits someone who doesn't wear yellow; it is inexpensive and widely available.
- Imperial topaz is the choice for a milestone birthday, at a much higher price.
Citrine is the gem of the 13th wedding anniversary, blue topaz of the 4th and imperial topaz of the 23rd; the full list is in our guide to gifts for every wedding anniversary.
November birth flower: chrysanthemum
November has a single birth flower, the chrysanthemum, one of the last flowers to bloom before winter. In the traditional language of flowers it stands for friendship, loyalty and cheerfulness, and color adds detail: a red chrysanthemum speaks of love, a white one of innocence, while yellow has been read as a slighted heart. Bronze and gold chrysanthemums echo the colors of topaz and citrine. Flower lore differs from one country to another, so take these meanings as the American custom. The other eleven months are in our guide to birth flowers by month.
On to the neighbors: October's opal and tourmaline and December's turquoise, tanzanite and zircon. For a single chart of the year, open birthstones by month.