November Birthstone Jewellery – Twice as nice

Those fortunate folks who are born in November boast of two birthstones: the topaz and the citrine.

Tempting Topaz

Naturally occurring topaz is commonly colourless, and naturally strong blue gems are extremely rare. In the marketplace, however, vivid blue shades are plentiful. This is because many topaz stones are heat-treated using a combination of radiation and heat to produce those fascinating sky blue hues. Irradiating colourless topaz with electrons at 10 million volts creates the vivid blue.

The most valuable topaz are those that are golden orange-yellow, called ‘Imperial Topaz’, followed by the pinkish-red and orange-red colours. Topaz crystals are usually elongated or columnar and, as such, are often cut into large oval or pear shapes to improve the yield of the stones. If the rough stone has a beautiful colour, the cutter will choose an emerald cut because that particular cut capitalises on the existing colour and retains the bulk of the weight.

Topaz is frequently used in jewellery; in pendants, rings, earrings and bracelets. In particular, the colourless topaz is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to more expensive diamonds –Kate Middleton wore white topaz earrings for the official engagement portraits in 2010.

Topaz symbolises love and affection; believed to bestow intelligence and strength on the person who wears it, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. A gift of blue topaz is said to be a promise of love and fidelity. What better way to express your devotion…

Scarab Jewellery Studio Topaz collection: Left Cushion Cut Swiss blue silver solitaire topaz ring, Silver scalloped half eternity sky blue topaz ring, Silver four stone cushion cut sky blue topaz.

Serene Citrine

Citrine is a quartz gemstone found in golden shades ranging from pale yellow to deep brownish orange. The name was derived from the French word citrin which means ‘lemon’. Despite the stone having more golden hues, it is still likened to a lemon. The rough stones have been found in Spain, on the Scottish island of Arran, in France and Hungary.

It was used as a gem in Greece as far back as 300 BC, and because of its colour, is sometimes mistakenly referred to as gold topaz, Madeira or Spanish topaz. Much of the citrine in today’s market is heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz; the treatment produces a deeper colour, usually an amber or orange-red shade.

The most sought-after stones are clearer, in a radiant yellow to brown-red.The citrine is believed to enhance mental clarity and stimulates the memory; and has a strong ability to soothe fear and anxiety.

Like all quartzes, the citrine has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, perfect for rings that need to stand up to scratches and knocks. As it is more affordable, citrine is the perfect choice if you want to commission a large conversation-stopping ring or pendant.

It’s your birthday month, indulge yourself!

Scarab Jewellery Citrine Collection: Left Silver and gold Victorian citrine earrings, Gold Cabochon 8mm round earrings, Gold and silver four 5mm stone cabochon earrings, Gold 8mm cushion cut earrings.