'Citrine' is said to get its name from the French word ‘Citron’ which means 'lemon', speaking to the brilliant yellowish to brownish orange colouring. Throughout history, Citrine has been a popular gemstone choice for statement jewelry in many eras and cultures. Beyond the cheerful shades of Citrine, this stone is thought to bring lightheartedness and hope to wearers.
This sunny gemstone is a type of Quartz and until it was named 'Citrine', it was commonly called 'Golden Topaz'. Naturally mined Citrine is very rare to come by now. Most of the Citrine stones featured in modern jewelry will be greated by heat treating Amethyst, another variety of quartz.
As with most quartz, Citrine has a Mohs hardness rating of 7, making this gemstone suitable for daily wear although it can be scratched or cracked with hard impacts.