November Birthstones: Topaz & Citrine
Birthstones are a long-standing tradition. Each month is associated with specific gemstones, creating a connection between the stones and those born at that time. Birthstone jewelry is often viewed as an excellent gift option though many people also buy pieces for themselves. By knowing what the November birthstone is, you can find the perfect jewelry gift for a loved one or a special treat for yourself.
What is the Birthstone for November?
Both topaz and citrine are considered to be the November gemstone. While topaz is often referred to as a stone, it’s technically a hard silicate mineral. The colour of the topaz is actually based on defects or impurities in the crystal structuring, leading to some rich and intriguing hues and a lot of variations.
Citrine is a quartz variety and has been popular since ancient times. You often see citrine in engagement rings from the Edwardian and Art Deco eras, being integrated into bold, eye-catching designs. However, it’s appeal certainly didn’t end even as those periods came to a close.
What Color is the November Birthstone?
The November birthstone color is generally considered to be yellow. Both topaz and citrine come in hues that vary from brownish orange to bright lemon to pale yellow. In fact, “citrine” is French for “lemon,” a nod to its bright, sunny coloring.
Yellow topaz and citrine have such similar coloring that they are often mistaken for one another. However, topaz can also come in a range of other colors, so one could argue that the November stone color isn’t restricted to yellows. Colorless, pink, violet, and blue topaz gemstones are all readily available. Additionally, topaz can be red, though this is relatively rare.
The Imperial Topaz, an orange, pink, peach, or champagned-hued crystal found in Russia and Brazil, is one of the rarest and, therefore, most expensive version of the topaz stone around. In fact, it’s so highly desirable that it often goes by the name “Precious Topaz” as well. However, certain other colors may also be included in the “precious topaz” category, such as pink or even natural blue, though they aren’t often associated with the “imperial topaz” group.
The colorless topaz may also be dyed. Many blue topaz stones you find in stores today are actually colorless topaz that has been dyed. Plus, the rainbow effect topaz stones, like the “Mystic Topaz,” are also artistic creations. A thin film is placed over a colorless topaz and then sealed, allowing light to shine through film and stone to create the amazing hues.
Since topaz comes in so many colors, you aren’t limited to yellow topaz when you want to find November birthstone jewelry. You can technically explore a multitude of other colors, though many may consider the yellow variety to be the version most closely associated with the month.
November Birthstone Jewelry
There are plenty of jewelry options for the birthstone for the month of November. Both topaz and citrine can be cut and faceted. You can find them in many traditional shapes, including emerald, heart, oval, marquise, round, pear, and princess.
However, if you prefer the look of a polished, smooth cabochon, you’re in luck. Both topaz and citrine cabochons are available as loose stones or in November birthstone jewelry, just like their shaped counterparts.
Both citrine and topaz jewelry options are pretty easy to find. Topaz birthstone jewelry can include rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and virtually any other kind of piece one could want. You can find topaz jewelry that focuses on a single topaz color, as well as some that feature several topaz gemstone hues.
Citrine is no different, regularly being found in nearly any kind of jewelry. Plus, if you opt for citrine, the high availability makes even larger stones reasonably affordable. This means it could be easier to find bold statement jewelry pieces made of citrine that won’t break the bank.
The November birthstone topaz can also be incredibly affordable, depending on the color and whether the stone is in its natural state. Both natural blue topaz and red topaz are rare, so then tend to be a bit pricy and may be hard to find. However, dyed blue topaz, clear topaz, and some of the other colors aren’t as challenging to locate. This can bring the price down dramatically.
As far as supporting metals, topaz and citrine jewelry can commonly be found in gold, white gold, and silver. In some cases, rose gold or even platinum might be used, though not as often as the other metal options.
Multi-gemstone jewelry with topaz or citrine is frequently available, as well. Finding pieces that also include diamonds isn’t typically a challenge. At times, you may even see jewelry with other kinds of gemstones, such as amethyst and peridot, alongside the November birthstones.
Stones Similar to the November Birthstones
Several gemstones can have the yellow coloring traditionally associated with citrine and yellow topaz. Both smoky quartz and colorless quartz can be treated to create vibrant, sunny hues, such as the bright lemon quartz, making them suitable alternatives.
Sapphires can also be yellow, and yellow sapphires aren’t usually as expensive as their pink and blue sapphire counterparts. There are also yellow garnets as well as heliodor (also known as golden beryl), which can both have a sunny coloring. However, in any of these cases, the gemstones might not be as affordable or readily available as citrine.
On the more expensive end sits yellow diamonds and yellow tourmaline. The yellow diamond coloring can range from a pale yellow to a bright canary, depending on the nitrogen content in the crystal that leads to the tint. It can have amazing clarity when the stone is high-quality. When it comes to yellow tourmaline, these stones are incredibly rare. Not only do they tend to be expensive, but inclusions are common.