November birthstone
Topaz
November has two birthstones, topaz and citrine, and they are frequently confused because both appear in warm yellow to orange. They are entirely different minerals. Topaz is an aluminum silicate at 8 on the Mohs scale with perfect cleavage in one direction, and citrine is yellow quartz at 7. Most citrine on the market is heat treated amethyst.
- Species
- Topaz is an aluminum silicate, citrine is yellow quartz
- Color range
- Golden yellow through orange and brown, and blue in treated topaz
- Mohs hardness
- Topaz 8, citrine 7
- Also this month
- Citrine
In nineteenth century jewelry the warm golden stone you meet most often is citrine, frequently in large open cuts in Scottish and Victorian gold, and often described at the time as topaz. That historic looseness in naming is why an old ring described as topaz deserves testing rather than trust.
Genuine imperial topaz, a warm orange to pinkish orange, is scarce and valuable. Blue topaz, by contrast, is almost always produced by irradiating and heating colorless material, a modern treatment, so a strong blue topaz in an antique setting usually means a later stone.
Topaz has perfect cleavage in one plane, which means a sharp knock in the wrong direction can split it cleanly rather than chip it. That is a real practical difference from quartz, and it matters for a ring worn daily.
In antique and vintage jewelry
Large golden citrines in Victorian and Scottish gold, Retro cocktail rings using citrine for scale, and occasional genuine topaz in Georgian and early Victorian pieces.
Wearing and caring for it
Both take warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Keep topaz away from knocks because of its cleavage, and keep citrine out of prolonged strong sunlight and out of steam cleaners.
As a gift
The warmest color range in the calendar, and a large citrine gives real scale for a modest price, which makes November one of the easier months to buy generously for.
Common questions
Is citrine the same as topaz?
No. Citrine is quartz and topaz is an aluminum silicate. They were often confused historically and in old jewelry descriptions, which is why we test rather than repeat an old label.
Is most citrine natural?
Natural citrine exists but is uncommon. Most citrine on the market is amethyst that has been heat treated to turn it yellow, and that is a long accepted trade practice.
Why is blue topaz rare in antique jewelry?
Because the blue is produced by irradiation and heating, a modern treatment. A vivid blue topaz in an old mount almost always indicates a stone added later.
Shop the pieces
Shop topaz jewelry
Antique and vintage pieces set with topaz, each one a single example.
Nothing matching this is available right now. Every piece is a single example and sells once, so this changes weekly. Browse everything in stock or ask our buyers to look for it.