November Birthstone: The Story Behind Citrine

November gets the warmest birthstone of the year. Just as the clocks go back and the light thins out, the month's stone is a golden, sunlit quartz that looks like it has stored up the last of the summer.

The November birthstone is officially shared between two gems: topaz and citrine. Topaz held the month alone for centuries. Citrine was added to the modern list in 1952 and has since become the one most people reach for. It's the stone we use across our November birthstone jewellery.

What is citrine?

Citrine is a yellow-to-amber variety of quartz. Its name comes from the French citron, for lemon, though the colour runs from pale straw through honey to a deep, burnt orange.

Here's the detail most people don't know: natural citrine is rare. Much of the citrine on the market started life as amethyst, which turns gold when it's gently heated. It's the same mineral, in a different mood. Most of the world's supply comes from Brazil and Bolivia.

Citrine scores 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. That's hard enough to wear every day on a necklace or earrings without worrying about it.

Citrine meaning

Citrine has long been called the merchant's stone. It is said to attract positivity and success, and traders traditionally kept a piece in the cash box. We can't promise a pay rise. We can promise it's one of the easiest gemstones to wear, because yellow-gold tones suit almost every skin tone, and they sit naturally against yellow gold.

How to wear a November birthstone necklace

Start with the piece most people buy first. Our Citrine November Birthstone Necklace sets a 6mm trillion-cut citrine in a fine bezel, on 18k gold plated recycled sterling silver. It's small enough to sleep in and bright enough to notice across a table.

For something finer, the Mini Deco Citrine November Birthstone Necklace uses an octagonal cut with an Art Deco outline. The larger Deco Citrine November Birthstone Necklace has more presence, and it layers well over a roll-neck.

If she already has a necklace she never takes off, go to the wrist or the ear instead. The Deco Citrine November Birthstone Bracelet is an emerald-cut citrine on a fine chain. The Citrine November Birthstone Studs are two 3mm round stones that slot into any ear stack.

Prefer silver? The Citrine November Birthstone Necklace in silver shows off how warm the stone looks against a cool metal.

And for a piece that will outlast every trend cycle, the Solid Gold November Birthstone Citrine Pendant pairs a 3mm brilliant-cut citrine with a lab-grown diamond in recycled 14ct gold.

Scorpio or Sagittarius? Add the zodiac

November is split between two star signs. Scorpio runs from 23 October to 21 November: intense, loyal and very hard to surprise. Sagittarius runs from 22 November to 21 December: restless, generous and usually planning the next trip.

That makes November birthdays a good fit for our zodiac pieces. The Zodiac Necklace is an 18mm gold plated pendant set with white topaz on a ball chain. It can be engraved with an initial on the reverse. The Zodiac Birthstone Necklace puts the star sign and the birthstone on the same chain: a Scorpio pendant with a citrine charm, or a Sagittarius one, says month and sign in a single piece.

Choosing November birthstone jewellery as a gift

A birthstone is one of the few gifts that is specific to her without needing any guesswork. You only need to know her birthday. If you'd like it to go further, add her initial with our birthstone and zodiac jewellery. Every piece is gift-wrapped, and UK shipping is free over £75.

Want to know the other eleven? Our guide to all 12 birthstones covers every month, and last month's post tells the story behind October's opal.