Like other months, November babies have their choice between two stones: topaz and citrine. While topaz comes in rainbow colors, both stones have options that fall in the autumn color palette, making them the perfect jewelry to celebrate your birth month and the season it falls in.
If you’re in the market for a special piece of birthstone jewelry, then this guide is for you. We’re breaking down both November birthstones to help you make the perfect choice between topaz or citrine for everyday wear.
Why Does November Have Two Birthstones?
Topaz and Citrine are both November birthstones, but you may be wondering why this month has two options. Topaz is the most traditional and long-standing birthstone for this month with Citrine becoming the second option in 1952 for more affordability.
Before then, Topaz was seen as a hard birthstone to find because of its rarity which led to higher price points. To offer more availability and affordability for November birthstones, Citrine was added since it’s easier to find (and make) and still falls in line with the autumn color palette.
While Citrine and Topaz have their differences, the two were commonly confused for one another throughout history. Because citrine and topaz have almost identical colors, gem miners mistakenly confused topaz for citrine and vice versa for the longest time… which is good since there’s a significant cost difference between the two!
Topaz Birthstone
Topaz Meaning & History
The topaz stone has an interesting background, including stemming from royal lore as being stones worn by Emperors and Czars. Topaz gets its name from the ancient Greek island of Topazios and is interpreted to mean “fire.” The stone was commonly used with the ancient Greek and Egyptians, and was known to symbolize strength. In ancient times, the Greeks believed the stone would increase their strength whereas the Romans believed it would protect them against poison.
Color Variations & Pleochroism
Topaz comes in various shades of yellow, red, purple, brown, and blue. Imperial topaz is one of the most popular shades since it’s so rare and comes in a mix of golden to reddish-orange shades perfect for the autumn birth month.
Depending on the angle of topaz when you’re viewing the stone, you might notice some of its pleochroic effects. Topaz is constructed with an anisotropic crystal structure, meaning it has atoms that are arranged in an asymmetrical pattern. This causes light to react differently when it passes through the stone at different angles, which creates different colors in the stone.
Where Is Topaz Found?
Topaz is a naturally-mined stone that can be found all over the world, including in the United States. But its major sourcing locations are in Brazil, Pakistan, and Nigeria.
In these locations, topaz is found in sediments along riverbeds or gravel beds where water has eroded. Topaz gets the start of its formation in the cavities of a volcanic rock called rhyolite once the magma cools.
Topaz Hardness & Durability
Topaz is a catch-22 when it comes to hardness and durability. The stone ranks fairly high on the Mohs scale, a scale that’s used to indicate how durable stones are from 1-10 with 10 being the highest or most durable. On the Mohs scale, topaz falls at an 8 which means it’s pretty resistant to scratches and can be worn everyday.
On the other hand, the stone comes with some cleavage risks. Topaz is fairly tough for minor blows, but it can chip or break from forceful blows or drops. So while it’s suited for everyday use, real topaz still needs to be handled with gentle care.
Care & Cleaning
Making sure your topaz jewelry doesn’t come into contact with hard or forceful blows is only a sliver of caring for this precious gemstone. This stone is highly sensitive to extreme heat and vibration so it should never be cleaned with steam or ultrasonic cleaning.
Instead, you’ll want to clean your topaz jewelry at home by soaking it in warm water and mild dish soap before gently scrubbing it with a soft-bristled toothbrush. You should also store your topaz jewelry by itself in its own soft cloth jewelry pouch to keep it from touching other pieces.
Citrine Birthstone
Citrine Meaning & History
Like topaz, the second November birthstone has a unique history. Called the “Merchant’s stone” for its lore to bring wealth and prosperity, citrine has been around for centuries, including the same ancient Egyptian and Roman time periods.
Citrine became popular for jewelry during the Art Deco period because of its color. Citrine sports unique shades of yellow and a brownish-red color that ties in perfectly with bold and exuberant color choices that symbolize wealth.
The yellow and orange shades of citrine that symbolize the sun made it added as the second November birthstone in 1952 by the United States Jewelry Council since it was more accessible and affordable than yellow topaz.
Where Is Citrine Found?
Naturally-sourced citrine is found in major mining locations in Brazil, Bolivia, and Madagascar. While citrine is more easily discovered than topaz, it still has its own version of rarity, so sometimes amethyst is treated with heat to create citrine since amethyst is more commonly found.
Citrine Hardness & Durability
On the Mohs scale, citrine falls at a 7. This ranking makes it suitable for everyday jewelry, but is slightly less scratch resistant than topaz. Citrine can also break or crack from extreme blows and needs to be handled with care as well.
Care & Cleaning
Caring for and cleaning citrine comes with the same regulations as caring for topaz. Citrine should also be kept away from steam to avoid damaging the stone, and should only be cleaned with warm soapy water.
November Birthstone Comparison
Trying to decide between topaz and citrine? Here’s a chart breaking down the two November birthstones:
|
Stone |
Hardness |
Price |
Rarity |
Color(s) |
|
Topaz |
8 |
More expensive due to rarity |
Considered more rare and valuable than |
Comes in shades of yellow, orange, |
|
|
|
|
citrine |
blue, brown, red, and purple |
|
Citrine |
7 |
Less expensive |
Less valuable and rare than topaz for real citrine that isn’t derived from amethyst |
Comes in shades of gold, orange, yellow, and reddish-brown |
How to Choose Your November Birthstone
Still trying to figure out how to choose your November birthstone? Here are some factors to consider to help you make the right pick:
- Color preference: While both birthstones come in similar shades, citrine colors mostly focus on the autumn color palette. If you want a bolder pop of color, topaz offers the perfect variety.
- Clarity: In their natural state, topaz has a higher clarity than citrine that gives the stone more brilliance and flash.
- Budget: Because of citrine’s lesser clarity and easier accessibility, it’s more budget-friendly than topaz.
- Stone certification: Always remember to ask for and check each stone’s certification for an unbiased report on the stone’s cut, clarity, and authenticity.
- Maintenance needs: Both topaz and citrine come with the same care guidelines, but topaz might be harder to care for because of its cleavage risks.