July’s Birthstone: Ruby Passions
written for SWCreations by Stephanie Dray

July’s birthstone is ruby. Given that July is a month dedicated to Julius Caesar—a dictator who died in a pool of his own blood–the red gemstone seems somehow appropriate. But then, July has always been a month for red hot passions, whether murderous rages or ardent love affairs. In that respect, with its own internal fire, ruby is the ideal birthstone for the hottest month of the year.

Because ruby represents such fiery human passions, it’s a common alternative to diamond for engagement rings. This might also be because ruby is the red variety of corundum, an extremely durable mineral that scores a 9 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, second only to diamonds. As a birthstone it rates highly because of this hardness and also because it doesn’t require special care.

Whereas diamonds and most other translucent gemstones are valued primarily for their clarity, color is the most important factor for rubies. This is because it’s nearly impossible to find a flawless ruby. Inclusions are the main way that experts can tell genuine rubies apart from synthetics or simulated rubies. So while rubies range from orange to purple, the richer the red, the more costly they are.

In truth, there is something of a special glow to the reddest of the red rubies. Since ancient times, ruby admirers have commented on the stone’s ability to cast fiery light. Chinese Emperors claimed they could light up banquet halls with rubies alone. These stories are certainly exaggerated, but may have originated from an actual scientific property of rubies called fluorescence. Under certain conditions, a ruby absorbs blue light, goes into an excited state, and emits radiation on the red end of the spectrum. This quality led scientists to choose rubies for the creation of the first lasers.

But before July’s birthstone was put to use in modern technology, ruby beaded jewelry was prized purely for its symbolic qualities. For thousands of years, rubies have been one of the most sought after gems on earth, and one of the rarest. Ruby was one of the twelve gemstones on the breastplate of Aaron in the bible and has always represented fire and blood. Moreover, royals believed that if held by its rightful owner, ruby beaded jewelry would change color to warn of danger. Most famously, Katherine of Aragon is said to have foreseen her fall from political grace when her ruby darkened.

Ancient Indians called ruby the “king of gemstones” and when a large ruby was found, a diplomatic envoy was sent to officially greet the stone as if it were a demi-god. Ruby beaded jewelry was also prized by warriors who thought it stimulated their courage and willingness to die for a cause they passionately believed in.

As you can see, rubies have never been associated with any of the soft and lofty emotions that other gemstones bring to mind. Ruby is not meant for cool tempers and tender sentiments. It is a July birthstone, after all, meant to be worn by moody Cancers and fiery Leos. Intensely red and passionately beautiful, July’s birthstone continues to blaze its way through history as one of our most cherished treasures.

Links:

Wikipedia on Rubies

International Colored Gemstone Organization on Rubies

Pearl is June’s birthstone, lending its ethereal beauty to the traditional month for weddings. Since ancient times, when the month was dedicated to the Roman Goddess of marriage, it has been considered good luck to take marriage vows beneath June’s sunny skies. Even today, one cannot imagine June without conjuring images of brides in lace and, of course, pearls.

Pearls glow with an iridescent luster and represent both purity of heart and mystery of spirit. Purity for its spiritual iridescence, mystery because the ancients didn’t know where pearls came from. The Greeks hypothesized that pearls were the hardened teardrops of Aphrodite, born of the sea. The Chinese suspected that pearls were petrified dragon brains. Arabs believed that pearls were solidified moonlight.

The actual explanation for the formation of pearls is just as fanciful. Unlike gemstones which are embedded in the earth through geological processes, June’s birthstone is the product of biology. To be precise, pearls are created by mollusks when an irritant is trapped inside its shell.

Much like humans develop hard layers of skin called calluses to protect us from irritation, pearl oysters coat the invading particle with a layer of nacre—a hard smooth substance. Over time, layer upon layer of nacre covers the irritant—the more layers, the more lustrous the pearl.

Round pearls are the most famous, but June’s birthstone comes in a variety of shapes. Beyond a simple strand of pearls, pearl beaded jewelry is very popular with brides. So-called ‘coin’ pearl beaded jewelry is made with flattened disk shape pearls. There are also irregularly shaped pearl beads known as ‘nugget pearls’ and even long ‘stick’ shaped pearls that make more natural beaded jewelry.

Though elegant bridal white is the color most frequently associated with June’s birthstone, pearls also come in pink, yellow, grey and black. Natural black pearls are the most valuable because of their rarity. Pearls are also valued by their shape—perfectly round ones being the most expensive.

Though beautiful, genuine pearl birthstone jewelry requires more care than other gemstones. Pearls can lose their iridescent luster if left in a dry environment, so it is recommended that you wear your pearl birthstone jewelry often to keep it moist with your own skin oil. On the other hand, you should avoid showering or otherwise soaking pearl jewelry in water.

Softer than other gemstones, pearls can be chipped and scratched or otherwise ruined if not treated delicately. In fact, one of the most famous stories about pearls centers on its destruction.

They say Cleopatra of Egypt once wagered Marc Antony that she could hold the most expensive banquet in history. To make good on her bet, she took one of her pearl earrings—one of the largest pearls in the known world—and dropped it into a cup of vinegar. When the pearl dissolved, she drank it as wine. He was apparently so impressed that he forsook his wife and took Cleopatra as a lover.

This story about Cleopatra was perhaps propaganda invented by her enemies to destroy her reputation. After all, with June’s birthstone representing purity and marriage, what could it say about Cleopatra that she was willing to destroy such a valuable pearl for Antony? True or not, the story painted Cleopatra as an ancient home wrecker which goes to show you the important symbolism and mysterious power of June’s birthstone—the ethereal pearl.

Links:

Wikipedia on Pearls

International Colored Gemstone Organization

written for SWCreations by Lisa A. Vella

One form of quartz crystal that is becoming more popular among jewelry designers today is known as the Drusy (pronounced DREW-zee) mineral. Oddly enough, there are many different spellings, including “druzy,” “drusie,” “druse,” and even “drusies.” The word itself originated from the German word, druse, and is defined as a beautiful grouping of very tiny crystals that grows on the surface of a stone. It is also not uncommon for drusy to form in the cavity of a geode or larger pocket of a mineral deposit.

When ground water carries dissolved silica and forces it into a porous area of a rock, rapid cooling occurs. Tiny crystals, the drusy crystals, then form on the surface or in the cavity of that rock. It may be composed of the same material as the base rock, or it may consist of a layer of clear quartz over different material. Chrysocolla, azurite, malachite, and uvarovite (pronounced oo-vare-oh-vite) are just a few of the many forms of drusy out there.

Up until about ten years ago, drusy minerals were of little interest to most, but their use to gem carvers and jewelry designers has raised awareness and notoriety to the general public. Perhaps one reason for its sudden popularity is because it has so many unique characteristics. The crystal clusters grow in outward facing positions and are angular in shape. Its basic structure, which resembles sugar crystals, is very interesting in appearance, but when forming in its natural state may take a long time to grow.

Most non-quartz species are natural and come in a multitude of colors—also an attractive feature for jewelry designers and connoisseurs alike. It forms in colors of green, blue, black, white, orange, and even polka-dot. It may be surprising to know that even colors such as hot pink (cobalto-calcite) and multi-colored (rainbow pyrite) forms of drusy occur in the natural world—not at all color-enhanced by man.

The fact that it has been around for thousands of years, makes it popular among the general public. It is strongly associated with interesting folklore and healing properties that give it additional appeal. Many who wear it even today believe in its powers—just as those of ancient times did.

Generally speaking, all drusy crystal is thought to help promote inner strength, and is even believed to encourage ideas or thought forms to grow. Specific forms of the stone, however, are known to have their own individual benefits. For example, Chrysocolla, a light green or sky blue stone promotes creativity, female energy, communication, and even aids in the relief of ulcers and arthritis. It is also associated with peace, patience, and unconditional love. Malachite, on the other hand, has powers of protection, success in business, and was often worn to detect impending danger. It was thought to break into tiny pieces when danger was near. Folklore says that Azurite, named after its azure or deep-blue color, was used in ancient cultures to contact divine consciousness. For this reason it was also known as “the stone of heaven.” It’s purifying effect on the mind and body helped one connect with the highest wisdom.

People appreciate drusy crystal for many different reasons. For some, it’s for its aesthetic beauty. For others, it’s for its healing powers and nurturing properties. Whatever the reason, it is certainly considered nothing less than a lovely gift from nature.

Work at Home Mom - WAHM
by Stephanie A White

Working from home can be a very rewarding job.  It is such a gift to be able to see your kids off to school and be there when they return home.  There are more than 10 million Work at Home mothers ranging from your crafty mom to your data entry computer job mom.   With gas prices still on the rise you might welcome not having the daily commute and shelling out all that money.

If you are currently looking for something to do from home you need to be on the alert for the Work at Home scams.  Just remember that old saying, “If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.”  If they are asking you for money to help you find a position this should be a red flag.  Real opportunities do exist, but you will have to exercise discretion to determine if the position is real or a scam.  This would be an excellent time to have your guard up and take the time to do the research.  After all anyone, even scam artists, can build a presentable convincing website these days.

These are some good tips and words of caution:

• ·         If they are asking for money, NEVER send money; legitimate recruiters or employers will never ask you for money.

• ·         Check and see if the opportunity comes from a real website.  If you are not familiar with the company do some additional research.

• ·         Look through websites to locate information about the company, such as; address, email, and telephone number.  You may have to do a Whois.net search to see detailed contact information.

• ·         Filling out the forms could be a scam to get your email address, so be sure you thoroughly do your homework on every website, before giving out your personal information.

• ·         Watch out for the ‘Act Now!’ statements.  Although you do not want to miss out on an opportunity, be patient no legitimate company will hire you on the spot.

• ·         If the income they promise seems too incredible or they promise you will only have to work a few hours a week, be very cautious.  This is one of those ‘too good to be true’ red flags.

A good place to start is to determine what your areas of interest are.  Also, what fields are you experienced in? The odds are if you like what you do you will probably enjoy doing it more.  Someone once said “if you love what you do, the money will follow”, and I can attest to that statement.    If you are starting your own business it can take 2-3 years to get the business off the ground.  Starting an online business can be very rewarding but will still require work and research to climb to the top of the search engines.  It is possible to create a successful internet business that requires less overhead.

If your Work at Home business does become successful you will have to learn how to balance working from home with managing your family.  It is possible to use a content management system to build just about any type of online business.  The content management software programs require a learning curve, but they are easier to manage on the day to day basis.  In the beginning you will have more than enough time to expand your topics of interest although as your business grows you may find it is more than one person can handle.  Unless your company is producing enough to hire outside help you will want to avoid spreading yourself too thin; after all there is only so much one person can do in one day and still have time for her family.

http://workathomesuccess.com/scamalert.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_at_home

May’s birthstone is emerald, a green gemstone that heralds the lush landscape of spring. May is a month in which flowers blossom, grass unfolds, and everything seems new again. Emerald is a stone that capture’s all spring’s verdant splendor, ranging in color between a bluish jungle green to chartreuse. The stone and the month are a perfect pairing.

Yet, for all of its exotic allure, emerald stones are simply a green variety of beryl. Aquamarine, another type of colored beryl, is the sister stone to May’s birthstone. But unlike aquamarine, emeralds are notorious for their flaws.

Though emerald clocks in at a respectable 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, its frequent flaws and inclusions make it less durable than many birthstones; emeralds are more prone to cracking than similar stones of the same size. To disguise the flaws and enhance the appearance of the stone, most emeralds are treated today with colorless oils and resins. Unfortunately, this means that they cannot be cleaned in an ultrasonic bath and you have to be careful even washing your hands if you’re wearing an emerald birthstone ring.

May’s birthstone has a rich history and lore that spans the globe. Emerald once betokened power and rule in ancient Egypt and Babylonia. Cleopatra famously mined them in Egypt, and rulers from India to Persia and beyond rushed to buy them. The ancient Roman writer Pliny once famously observed of emerald that “Nothing greens greener.”

But emerald’s history isn’t just limited to the cradle of civilization. The discovery of the new world revealed that emeralds were prized in the Americas as well. In 1532, Conquistidor Pizzaro captured the Inca King of Peru who named among his treasures an emerald crown. Cortez also loaded boats with emeralds to bring back to Europe.

In addition to their historical importance, emeralds also have religious significance. The bible names emerald as one of the birthstones in the breastplate of Aaron, representing the tribe of Judah. Emerald has importance to Christianity as well. Italy boasts of a Holy Grail cup made of emeralds that was captured during the crusades and which is said to have been used by Christ at the Last Supper.

The Koran also describes heaven’s garden as being carpeted with emeralds, and the famous ‘Mogul Emerald’ has prayers engraved in it. The Hindus revere emeralds for their supposed healing properties and its name in Indian means “the green of growing things.”

From the old world to the new, emerald’s rich religious and cultural history made it a prized stone in ages past, but our love affair with May’s birthstone still endures. In fact, high quality emeralds are worth more than diamonds by carat weight. Perhaps it is the vast depth of emerald green that calls to us, or maybe, as the ancients believed, the stone is simply soothing to the eye. Whatever accounts for our fascination, emerald is like spring captured in a stone and that makes it the perfect birthstone for May.

Links

Wikipedia on Emeralds

International Colored Gemstone Organization

Amethyst is February’s birthstone. Some might wonder whether amethyst’s rich violet hue is appropriate for a month associated with red roses and candy hearts. But as it happens, the legend of Saint Valentine says that he wore an amethyst ring carved in the shape of cupid. Amethyst beads, with their grape purple tints, have been associated with love, fertility and romance long before pink Hallmark Cards took February’s center stage.

In fact, before the legend of Saint Valentine and his amethyst ring, there was the legend of Cleopatra and hers. Though Egyptian pharaohs generally adorned their tombs with amethysts, Cleopatra wore hers on a spectacular ring symbolizing love, light and life. Cleopatra was thought to be the incarnation of Isis by Egyptians, and some Romans thought she was the incarnation of Venus, Goddess of Love. With her amethyst ring, Cleopatra was said to have ensorcelled not one, but two powerful Roman generals: Julius Caesar and Marc Antony. Perhaps it is for this reason that Roman wives came to believe that amethyst beaded jewelry would assure their husband’s devotion.

Moreover, the story that gives February’s birthstone its name is a romantic tragedy. Dionysus, the Greek god of fertility and wine, fell in love with a maiden named Amethyst. When the maiden refused the drunken god’s affections, she was turned to quartz. But when the God saw the girl thus, he was overcome with love and sorrow. He wept upon her statue and his wine-purple tears stained the stone forever.

Thereafter, ancient people’s thought that amethyst had the power to prevent intoxication. Cups and goblets were carved from amethyst to protect against drunkenness. Amethyst’s reputation for being able to grant its wearer a clear head, promote feelings of love, and ensure devotion made it a popular stone amongst the early clergy. Amethyst beads adorned crucifixes worn by bishops and cardinals, but Catholicism wasn’t the only religion to prize February’s birthstone. Amethysts are also Buddha’s gemstone and treasured in Tibet.

Amethyst beaded jewelry can be as pale as lilac or as vibrant as lilac–versatile colors that compliment most skin tones. Moreover, February’s birthstone registers as a 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, which means that it’s durable. In fact, amethyst’s beauty and durability ensured that it was once amongst the most expensive gemstones, but due to large deposits found in the modern era, amethyst birthstones are now affordable on any budget. One drawback to February’s birthstone, however, is that daylight can change its color. Purple amethysts can be restored by means of radiation, but to preserve the intense royal color, it’s best not to wear amethyst beaded jewelry when sunbathing or otherwise exposed to intense light.

In modern times, February has become a month of sober reflection. We acknowledge the accomplishments of African Americans during February because it is Black History Month. We remember our great leaders on President’s Day, and we show our appreciation for the ones we love on St. Valentine’s Day. So too has amethyst become a modern symbol of clear-headedness and an open heart, which makes it an ideal birthstone for those born under the sign of Aquarius.

Links:

International Gemstone Organization on Amethysts

Wikipedia on Amethysts

Amethyst Beaded Jewelry

Amethyst Stones

In the 1970’s a new and interesting kind of jewelry became one of the biggest fads of the decade to hit the market. It was the first piece of jewelry that could supposedly tell what mood its wearer was in. This piece of jewelry was the mood ring—it was fun, it was fresh, and it was totally cool if you owned one! Today, mood jewelry comes in more than just the original form of mood rings. There are now necklaces, earrings, toe rings, and most recently, beads to become bracelets. Regardless of form, however, mood jewelry has an interesting history.

It is a bit uncertain as to who actually invented the mood ring. One story says that in the 1960’s a man named Marvin Wernick invented it. He had supposedly gotten the idea while watching a doctor friend of his apply a thermotropic strip to a child’s forehead during an emergency. The strip changed color according to how hot the strip became. After giving it some thought, Wernick, a jewelry designer by trade, realized that he could turn this into a fun invention for ordinary use. It wasn’t long before the mood ring came about.

Still others attribute the arrival of the mood ring to a man named Joshua Reynolds, who was also the inventor of the Thighmaster.

Apart from who invented it, it still works the same. The stone of the ring itself is either a hollow piece of glass filled with liquid thermotropic crystals, or a clear glass stone that sits on a sheet of liquid crystals. These crystals reflect different wavelengths of light based on the body temperature of the person who is wearing it. The stone then changes color according to the body temperature.

So how can you tell the mood by a person’s body temperature? People’s body temperatures tend to vary based on what mood they are in. For example, if a person feels stressed their body temperatures often drop. If that person is wearing the mood ring, it would typically be represented by the ring changing from the neutral green to black. When one is very happy, or even in love, body temperature rises, and the ring should change from the neutral green to dark blue or purple.

Whether mood jewelry actually works or not remains to be seen. There are a few different variables that can render them inaccurate. For one thing, individual companies calibrate the temperature of their rings slightly differently, so sometimes the colors are not completely universal. Another thing to keep in mind is that not everyone’s body temperature is the same in certain situations, like extreme stress or when in love. The following is a list of colors and their general meanings:

• Brown: Anxious, nervous, fearful
• Black: Stressed, tense or feeling harried
• Grey: Extremely nervous or anxious, scared
• Amber: Slightly nervous or anxious
• Green: Neutral reading, normal, not under great stress
• Blue-green: Emotionally charged, somewhat relaxed
• Blue: Relaxed, At ease, calm, lovable
• Dark Blue/Purple: Very happy, in love, passionate, romantic

Regardless of who invented it or how accurate they are, mood jewelry is still great fun to both own and wear. It is attractive, stylish and comes in many different forms. So why don’t you try it out for yourself, test out the accuracy—see what mood you are in! After all, that is part of the fun of owning mood jewelry.

January’s birthstone is garnet, a stone with an inner fire that defies even the coldest winter days. And the month of January is filled with those. January is named for Janus, the two faced Roman God of beginnings, endings, gates and doors. This is because January pays tribute to the year just past and harbingers the journeys we’ll make into the New Year.

As we make those journeys, whether as trips or metaphorical resolutions, no more fitting birthstone could guide us than garnet. This is because ancient cultures like the Romans, Greeks, Egyptians and even Sumerians used garnet beaded jewelry as protective talismans for journeyers. The garnet appears in the bible as the fourth stone in Aaron’s breastplate and Noah is said to have used a garnet lantern to guide his Ark at night.

For those seeking garnet’s sure guidance, garnet beaded jewelry is ideal. But garnet rings are particularly popular birthstone jewelry for January, because a ring represents the completion of the yearly cycle.

So what color should garnet connoisseurs wear?

Blood red garnet beaded jewelry stands out like a blooming rose against January snows; the gemstone’s name itself derives from the pomegranate, a fruit with sparkling seeds that resemble garnet beads. Certainly, deep crimson is garnet’s most popular and iconic shade.

But January’s birthstone can be any shade, and garnet beaded jewelry can be found in a rainbow of hues. For a time, it was believed that garnets came in every color but blue, but the discovery of blue garnets in Madagascar in the 1990s put that idea to rest. Now, smoky blue garnet is amongst the most prized gems both for its rarity and its ability to change color in different light.

Unusually colored garnets each have their own names. For example, purple garnets are known as Rhodolite, mandarin orange garnets are called Spessartine, brown or black garnets are known as Andradite, and emerald green garnets go by the name of Tsavorith. This is to name only a few.

This wide variety of names for January’s birthstone stems from the fact that garnet is not a single gemstone, but rather, a family of related stones. What all varieties of garnet share is a common formation and cubic crystalline structure. Garnets are uniformly brilliant, natural, and durable. Garnets are also amongst the hardest gemstones, rating between a 7 and 7.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, and garnet beaded jewelry is generally affordable, making an ideal birthstone.

In fact, there are no known enhancements for garnets, so it’s difficult to fool a consumer with inferior quality garnet beaded jewelry. Perhaps it is this inviolable purity that turned garnet into a symbol for remembrance and faithful friendship. After all, historically, garnet has been a gift exchanged between good friends who are parting, to ensure that they meet again. January’s birthstone is even said to rekindle old feelings.

Thus, in a month when we gather with family and sing of old acquaintances forgotten and never brought to mind, garnet birthstone jewelry stands as a tribute to January’s two aspects–reminding us of the past and guiding us into the future.

Resources:
Garnets
January Birthstones

Turquoise is December’s birthstone, blue as a winter sky or a Christmas forest. These cool turquoise shades have endeared December’s birthstone to cultures from antiquity to today. Even though this opaque gemstone brings to mind the native tribes of the American Southwest, historically, the largest source of turquoise beaded jewelry was the Middle East.

Iran was the single greatest source of quality turquoise, and December’s birthstone was prized by the Egyptians as far back as the First Dynasty. Indeed, turquoise is a regal stone that has adorned the rulers of Persia, Egypt, Israel, and China. Even on the other side of the world, turquoise beaded jewelry was considered fit for Aztec royalty and chiefs of the Pueblo, Navajo and Apache tribes.

For all these civilizations, turquoise was held in esteem not just for its peaceful hues, but because they believed that the gemstone worked as a talisman to clear the mind, enhance good health and protect the wearer from dark forces. In fact, the legends surrounding turquoise all revolve around the gemstone’s reputed ability to bring cheer and dispel darkness. This might be one of the qualities that makes turquoise the ideal birthstone for December — Seasonal Depression Awareness Month.

When given as a gift, turquoise beaded jewelry is meant to endow the recipient with great happiness throughout the year. Certainly, the cool blue that is most prized in turquoise cannot help but be a soothing balm to weary winter spirits. But the green tints that bring to mind placid Caribbean seas add warmth to the season.

In ancient times, Egyptian turquoise was said to be greener than the gemstones found in Iran. Then, as now, green turquoise beaded jewelry was less prized than the blue. The difference in color is caused by the presence of copper and iron. The more copper is present in the turquoise, the bluer it will be. If more iron is present, the turquoise beaded jewelry will appear greener

Whether green or blue, December’s Birthstone requires some special care. Scoring below six on the Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness, even turquoise beaded jewelry can fracture easily. If turquoise jewelry is exposed to cosmetics, perfumes, or even skin oils, the appearance of the stone can change dramatically. Turquoise stones and beaded jewelry needs protection from the elements and is seldom faceted. (If one desires a more traditional translucent December birthstone, the alternative is icy blue topaz.)

To enhance the appearance and durability of turquoise, even the ancients treated their polished turquoise beaded jewelry with wax. In modern times, jewelers often seal turquoise gemstones in a synthetic resin. But even more radical treatments have been devised that can devalue December’s birthstone for the unwary buyer. Perhaps this is why some experts claim that high quality turquoise is now rarer than any other precious gem, including diamonds.

But for those who were born in December, many beautiful and affordable turquoise beaded jewelry and inlaid stone options are available. After all, December brings with it the winter solstice when the sun’s ebb on the sea’s horizon finally reverses course. That makes turquoise, a gemstone that encompasses notions of both sea and sky, a most fitting birthstone for December’s devotees.

Relevant Links:
Wikipedia’s entry on Turquoise
International Colored Gemstone Organization

With fallen leaves swirling on chill winds, November marks our last fond farewell to warmer days. As trees turn color and people get cozy with spiced cider, the gemstones for this month are bound to bring seasonal cheer. Citrine and yellow topaz are November’s birthstones, heralding the harvest with their warm and sunny hues.

Topaz is one of the oldest and most revered ornamental gemstones in the world. The ancient Egyptians believed that the bright and beautiful stones were glowing drops of light cast to earth by the sun god Ra.  The Romans attributed the golden gleam of topaz to Jupiter, their god of light and sky.  And in the Bible, topaz was one of the twelve named gemstones set into the breastplate of Aaron. 

In fact, at one time, all yellow stones were called topaz.

Topaz runs the gamut of autumn shades from the pale yellow of a chardonnay to ambered honey or a vibrant pumpkin orange.  Topaz will not scratch because it is extremely hard (rating an 8 on the Mohs scale), but it also has what is known as “perfect cleavage.”  This means that it can chip easily, which, combined with its expense, may be why many people with November birthdays prefer citrine.

Citrine, November’s other birthstone, is sometimes indistinguishable from topaz to the untrained eye.  Citrine has often been sold to fool consumers under the names golden topaz, Madeira topaz, Brazilian topaz, Bahia topaz, and citrine topaz. 

But as closely as citrine and topaz resemble each other, they are very different gemstones.  In fact, citrine’s sister gemstone is actually the amethyst.  Both citrine and amethyst are varieties of quartz. Amethyst can be heat treated until the purple color turns amber when it can then be sold as citrine.  Of course, the same phenomenon occurs in nature when purple amethyst crystals are exposed to hot centers in the earth and transformed into citrine. So the distinction between the two gemstones is largely a function of color.  (When a gemstone combines amethyst and citrine together, it is known as ametrine.)

But while citrine, amethyst, and ametrine are essentially the same stone, the two November birthstones, citrine and topaz, are entirely different minerals.

Of the two, citrine is more common. Ranging in color from a bright lemon yellow to a deep tawny brown, citrine brings out the gleam in any gold setting.  Along its color spectrum, citrine even encompasses cinnamon orange and a shade of red that is reminiscent of Madeira wine.

There are not many yellow gemstones in the world, and of those that exist, citrine is the most affordable.  It is also extremely durable.  Citrine’s hardness measures 7 on the Mohs scale, which makes citrine largely impervious to scratches.  But more importantly, its crystalline properties make citrine difficult to chip. 

Historically, both yellow topaz and citrine were said to bring light and clarity of mind to those who owned them. Yellow topaz and citrine were both worn to gladden hearts, banish fear, and to help see through deception. Even in the contemporary world, these gemstones are known to evoke images of autumn gourds, roaring fires, sunflowers, and melted butter over cobs of corn. So what better way to commemorate the month of November than with one of these elegant birthstones?

Resources:
Healing Qualities of Gemstones
Citrine Crystals
Citrine on Wikipedia
Topaz on Wikipedia
More about the Month of November