Birthstone of the Month: November.

People born in November are blessed with a choice of two birthstones, citrine and topaz. This bright and vibrant duo of gemstones offer an array of colour choices so there is something to suit every taste and style. Wear one.....or wear them both together!

Citrine ranges in colour from a pale lemon yellow to a golden orangish/brownish yellow, and is a member of the quartz species. Natural yellow quartz is rare, 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 which can be worn and enjoyed. With its golden hue being reminiscent of gold, wearing this stone is believed to encourage prosperity and success in financial ventures.

Topaz comes in a wide range of colours including red, pink, orange, brown and blue and 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. With a mohs hardness of 8, topaz is a good choice for use in jewellery including rings, 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.

Both citrine and topaz can grow to good sizes and are often transparent and eye clean and when faceted produce beautiful, colourful and eye catching gems. Pictured are a selection of some of the new and secondhand citrine and topaz pieces available at our shop in Bodmin, viewings are most welcome.