It is that time again for birthstone of the month, and November babies are blessed with a choice of two fabulous stones, citrine and topaz. This colourful duo of gemstones offer an array of colour choices so there is something to suit every taste.
Citrine (Silicon Dioxide) ranges from a pale lemon yellow to a golden orangish/brownish yellow, and is a member of the quartz species. Yellow quartz is reasonably rare in nature, and a large percentage of citrine on the market is actually heat treated amethyst. With a mohs hardness of 7 it is reasonably robust and a good choice for jewellery. With its golden hue being reminiscent of gold, it can be known as the 'merchants stone' and is linked to money, prosperity and success in financial ventures.
Topaz comes in a wide range of colours including red, pink, orange, brown and blue and it can also be colourless. Topaz colouring is often manipulated artificially by the use of heating or irradiation. Blue topaz are frequently treated with a combination of heat and irradiation, but this is a stable treatment in the blue shades and will not fade.
The most expensive topaz is the 'Imperial' topaz, which has an orange body colour with pinkish red tones. Its main source is Brazil, but it is a rare stone due to its limited geographical location, and care is needed to avoid imitations.
With a mohs hardness of 8, topaz is a good choice for use in jewellery, provided it has been well cut. Topaz can cleave, and appear to break, so it is important that when it is cut no facets coincide with a cleavage plane or it can be damaged during polishing or whilst in wear.
In the middle ages the St. Hildegard of Bingen, a twelfth century nun and mystic, recommended topaz as a cure for bad eyesight, and stated that if the topaz was soaked in wine for three days and then the wine drunk, the eyesight would improve. Buck & Co are by no means recommending this, or at least please remember to take the topaz out of the wine before consumption.
Pictured are some citrine and topaz pieces in the beautiful and vibrant colours that are typical for these gemstone species. Feel free to pop in for a viewing at our shop in Bodmin.
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