Citrine

Citrine is quartz in the colours of sunlight: lemon, gold, honey and a deep reddish orange. A trace of iron in the crystal gives it that warmth. It is hard enough to wear every day and costs far less than most coloured gems, which makes a large, bright stone easy to own.

Where the name comes from

The name comes from the French citron, lemon, and it was first used in English in the 1300s. For centuries citrine was confused with topaz, because the two share the same golden colours. The old names "golden topaz" and "Madeira topaz" are misleading and should not be used.

Beliefs and legends

• Protection. Citrine is said to have been carried as protection against snake venom and evil thoughts. The belief is repeated across the gem trade, though no old record shows where it began.
• A calm temper. It was also believed to soothe tempers and calm its wearer.

The colours, and their names

• Lemon and pale yellow: the lightest citrines, plentiful and affordable.
• Golden yellow to orange: the classic citrine.
• Madeira: a deep orange to reddish orange, named for the colour of Madeira wine.
• Lime: a newer, greenish yellow, made by heating smoky quartz.

Treatments, honestly

Natural citrine is rare. Most citrine on the market began as amethyst, or sometimes smoky quartz, and was heated to turn it yellow or orange. The result is stable in normal wear and is accepted in the trade, but it must be disclosed, and the colour can change if the stone is heated again during repairs. Even a laboratory can find it hard to prove whether a citrine's colour is natural. We tell you what we know about each stone before you buy it.

How to judge a citrine

• Colour comes first. The finest is a saturated yellow to reddish orange with no brown tint.
• Look for even colour. Avoid visible colour banding and inclusions; most faceted citrine is clean to the eye.
• Size is affordable. Stones up to about 20 carats are readily available, and the price per carat rises only gently with size.

Caring for your citrine

Citrine is 7 on the Mohs scale and suits everyday wear. Clean it in warm water with a little mild soap and a soft brush. Keep it away from strong heat: tell your jeweller it is citrine before any repair or resizing.

At a glance

Mineral	Quartz (silicon dioxide), yellow to orange variety
Hardness	7 Mohs
Colours	Lemon, gold, honey, orange, Madeira (reddish orange), lime
From	Zambia, Madagascar; also Namibia (Erongo); most from Brazil
Treatments	Most citrine is heated amethyst or smoky quartz. Disclosed per stone
Care	Warm soapy water, soft brush. No strong heat