November Birthstones: Topaz and Citrine

(How to Tell the Difference Between Topaz and Citrine)

Others believe that topaz can be traced back to the Greek word ‘topazo’. The November birthstone has always been considered to have many benefits. Topaz is the proud king of gemstones in Brazil. Its color brightness is comparable to that of diamonds. All the colors of the sun can be found in imperial topaz.

The November birthstone is Topaz, whose English name Topaz comes from the Sanskrit word tapas, which means “fire”. In the beginning, all yellow gemstones were called topaz and were known by everyone. Topaz is regarded as a sacred object in Europe and has the function of breaking magic spells. In India, it is believed that the wearer can prolong life by placing topaz near the heart. In Greece, it was believed that topaz gave people strength. In Brazil, Topaz is known as the “King of Gemstones”, and all the colors of the sun can be found in this gemstone.

Table of Contents

Topaz Birthstone Color and History

As November Birthstones,Topaz comes in a variety of colors including colorless, blue, light pink, violet, yellow, orange, brown and, rarely, red. Among them, blue topaz is the result of colorless topaz treated by radiation and heat. Red and yellow topaz are extremely rare.
- Red topaz
The output of red topaz is very rare, and large carats (more than 10 carats) are regarded as rare treasures. At present, red topaz can only be produced in a small area of Minas state, Brazil.
- Imperial Topaz
Imperial Topaz, second only to red topaz, is yellowish with orange tinges. It has aristocratic temperament and is mainly produced in Brazil.

In the mid-18th century, imperial topaz became popular in France and Spain, where it was often used in jewelry.

At the same time, Brazil was particularly popular in wearing topaz. The famous Brazilian Emperor Pedro II was very loyal to the emperor’s topaz. He often customized topaz jewelry and used it exclusively for the royal family.
- Blue Topaz
Blue topaz is divided into: sky blue, London blue, Swiss blue. It is also easy to judge the value. The darker the blue topaz, the higher the price.
- Pink Topaz
Pink topaz is so lovely. It means family affection and has a girlish feeling. Pink Topaz can help the wearer release the depressed mood, which can make people soothe their inner emotions.
- Yellow Topaz
Yellow topaz is just as beautiful and lovely. It is a symbol of peace and friendship, and it carries people’s wonderful expectations for friendship.

Colorless Topaz

Colorless topaz is often mistaken for diamonds. Historically, the Braganza diamond (1640 carats) on the Portuguese crown was confirmed to be a colorless topaz, which became the biggest “Oolong event” in the seventeenth century.

Where does topaz come from?

a.Brazil

Minas Gerais, Brazil, has a history of mining topaz for more than two centuries. The rich resources of topaz make this place listed as a “World Heritage Site” by UNESCO.

b.Pakistan

Ghundao Hill in northwestern Pakistan is world famous for producing pink topaz. Ghundao Hill is close to the small town of Katlang and has been mining topaz for more than 50 years. The most popular of its species, pink topaz, has a hint of violet and is known in the gem trade as “cyclamen pink.”

In addition to Brazil and Pakistan, topaz is now found in Namibia, Nigeria, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Russia and other places.

Topaz Care and Cleaning

With a Mohs hardness of 8, topaz(November Birthstones) requires careful care and avoid chipping or cracking. Warm soapy water works best in general. Avoid extreme high or low temperature irritation. The correct abrasive cleaner or buffing wheel will remove wear marks from the topaz surface.

Difference between topaz and citrine:

If you’re planning on shopping for a November birthstone, you need to know the difference between topaz and citrine.
1. The difference in physical characteristics can be intuitively reflected in the following table:
2.Differentiation method
- Mohs hardness tester: As two kinds of jewelry raw materials with different hardness, we can easily distinguish the two kinds with the Mohs hardness tester. gem. Intuitive data is the most convincing.
  Ultraviolet light: Since the chemical composition of the two gemstones is different, we can use ultraviolet light to identify and distinguish the two gemstones. Typically under UV light, topaz will fluoresce faintly white, while citrine will fluoresce yellow. This approach is also intuitive.
Through the simple description above, you must have learned how to distinguish topaz from citrine. As the birthstone of November, I hope they can give you more family and friendship.