Citrine
Citrine is the yellow-to-orange member of the quartz family, and the honest fact to know before buying it is that most of what’s on the market got its color from a kiln, not from the ground. Amethyst and smoky quartz both reliably turn yellow, orange, or reddish-brown when heated to a few hundred degrees Celsius, and because amethyst is abundant while naturally yellow quartz is comparatively scarce, the overwhelming majority of commercial citrine — including the deep orange “Madeira” citrine common in jewelry — is heat-treated amethyst. This isn’t a deceptive practice; it’s standard, disclosed (when asked) trade knowledge, and heat-treated citrine is stable and no less genuine a gem for having been treated. But naturally colored citrine, formed yellow from the start with no treatment, is the rarer and more sought-after version among specialists.
Species and variety. Citrine is a macrocrystalline variety of quartz, SiO2, in the same family as amethyst, rock crystal, and smoky quartz. Its color comes from trace iron in the crystal structure, in a different oxidation state and thermal history than the iron behind amethyst’s purple — which is precisely why heat can convert one into the other.
Appearance and color range. Citrine ranges from a pale, lemony yellow to a deep golden orange and even a reddish-brown “Madeira” tone; natural, untreated citrine tends toward the paler end, while heat-treated material more often shows the deeper orange shades prized in mainstream jewelry.
Hardness and everyday care. At 7 on the Mohs scale, citrine is a durable, practical everyday stone, resistant to scratching from most household contact and well suited to rings worn daily. Like other quartz varieties, prolonged strong light exposure can gradually fade its color, so it’s worth avoiding extended direct sun.
Where it is found. Brazil is the dominant commercial source (largely as heat-treated amethyst), with Bolivia, Madagascar, and Zambia also producing material.
Birthstone role. Citrine is a November birthstone in the UK 2013 and US current systems, listed alongside topaz — the historical list and the US 1912 system give November to topaz (and, historically, pearl) alone, with no citrine. It does not appear in any of the zodiac systems tracked on this site.
Gemmological properties
| Mohs hardness | 7 |
|---|---|
| Crystal system | Trigonal |
| Chemical formula | SiO2 |
| Refractive index | 1.544–1.553 |
| Color family | Yellow, Orange |
| Variety of | quartz |
| Also known as | — |
| Origins | Brazil, Bolivia, Madagascar, Zambia |
| Organic material | No |
Most commercial citrine is produced by heat-treating amethyst or smoky quartz; naturally-formed, untreated citrine is comparatively rare.
Where Citrine appears as a birthstone
By month
Frequently asked questions
- Is most citrine natural or treated?
- Most commercial citrine on the market is produced by heat-treating amethyst or smoky quartz, which reliably shifts their color toward yellow, orange, or reddish-brown. Naturally formed citrine — colored yellow by iron from the moment it crystallized, with no heat treatment — exists but is comparatively rare and typically paler than the deep orange "Madeira" citrine common in jewelry.
- How can you tell heat-treated citrine from natural citrine?
- Not reliably by eye. Natural citrine tends toward paler, more lemon-yellow tones, while heat-treated material (from amethyst) often shows a more saturated orange or reddish-brown color and sometimes retains faint color zoning inherited from the original amethyst. Confirming origin generally requires lab testing, which most jewelry-grade stones never receive.