Citrine Shopping Guide
As we reach full swing of the fall season, we decided to take the liberty of creating a citrine shopping guide. Because of their golden yellow color which reflects the colors of autumn, and their durability and affordability, these gemstones make great gifts or personal must-haves for anyone celebrating a November birthday or anniversary.
For thousands of years, ancient civilizations have been attracted to the beauty of quartz jewelry (citrine, amethysts, etc.). Ancient societies often confused citrine gemstones with topaz.
Citrine Shopping Guide
COLOR:
Currently, most citrine gemstones on the market generally derive from a pale, violet amethyst gemstone by undergoing a heat treatment. This is because all-natural citrine gemstones are quite rare and both gemstones derive from the quartz mineral. The original hue of an amethyst will determine the richness of the yellow color in the citrine. However, in natural citrines, the yellow-orange color is due to trace quantities of iron. The finest color is “saturated yellow to reddish orange, free of brownish tints” (GIA).
CLARITY:
Jewelers seek citrine gemstones without visible inclusions. If present, the citrine’s value will decrease.
CARATS:
Unlike other gemstones, geologists frequently discover citrine gemstones in huge sizes. In fact, the sizes can be so large that designers can carve ornate designs and caricatures into the gemstone.
Zimmerman animal carvings. An alleged “olden chinchilla that looks remarkably like someone’s pet cat carved in citrine from Brazil with peridot and gold eyes.
CUT:
While standard cuts of citrine gemstones are frequently available, more high-end jewelry designers take the liberty of fashioning the gemstone into exotic cuts.
Stop by Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers to see some our beautiful citrine gemstone jewelry. We also carry a limited number of citrine jewelry pieces online as well! These pieces make the perfect autumn gift, November birthstone gift and 13th-anniversary gift. Visit Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers today!
