Citrine is an amazing stone with a beautiful captivating colour. When it comes to yellow stones, the yellow crystal remains amongst the most popular choices. Citrine is being used since the ages and as per the studies, 17th-century Scottish men used citrine to decorate their weapons. Elaborate citrine jewellery was worn by the Victorian and 1920s socialites. If this fascinating yellow stone is catching your attention as well, read on to know some interesting facts about citrine.

1. Citrine is a variety of quartz-yellow quartz

Citrine is a rich yellow-coloured quartz crystal. The colour varies from very pale yellow to a deeper darker orange. The colour variation depends on the iron impurities within the quartz during the formation time. Just like most quartz crystals Citrine is made from a fine blend of silicon and oxygen atoms and is a 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness.

2. Natural citrine is rare

Natural Citrine is rare. Most crystals sold in citrine’s name are either synthetic or treated to look like citrine. Though citrine deposits are found worldwide, now the crystal is much harder to come by. Currently, the stone is mined from Brazil and Uruguay.

3. Citrine can be replicated

Citrine’s beautiful golden colour can be replicated. Many crystals and gems come from the same family but the different shapes and colour depend on the environmental conditions. To replicate citrine, amethyst is heated above 300-400°C. In the process, amethyst loses its violet hue and gains orange or brown colours.

4. Fake citrine can be found based on the intensity of its colour

Fake Citrine or heated amethysts is a burnt orange colour, even brown towards the points. Real citrine is way lighter. Another notable way to distinguish between the two is to compare the size of the points in the crystal clusters. While Citrine points in a cluster are larger, the amethysts forms are smaller.

5. Citrine means yellow

Citrine word has come from the word “citrina” meaning yellow in Latin or the French “citron” meaning lemon. Until 1556, this stone was known as yellow quartz, post which the name was changed to citrine.

6. Citrine is also called “merchant’s stone”

Throughout the Middle Ages, citrine was called “the merchant’s stone” or “the money stone” because it was thought to bring prosperity and wealth to those who wore it. It was thought to attract success and profit.

7. Worn by Emperor in Ancient China

Citrine was also seen as the “success stone”, in ancient Chinese society as it was thought to bring success to the wearer. The Chinese Emperors often wore citrine jewellery to get successful and broaden one’s minds and perceptions.

8. Citrine Is Said to Have metaphysical properties

Historically, it was believed that citrine brought its wearers prosperity in all its forms and is believed to be linked to one’s intuition. Just like many other gemstones and crystals, Citrine is also known to have many metaphysical properties. Wearing it can help revitalize the mind and sharpen focus. It is also known to help increase self-esteem and self-confidence and thus, can release negative traits and phobias.

9. Got Popular in Hollywood in the 1920s and 1930s

Swedish-American actress Greta Garbo had a huge jewellery collection amongst which there were several citrines. After she was seen flaunting it, the stone rocketed in popularity.

10. World’s largest facet citrine weighs 20,200 carats

The world’s largest faceted citrine weighs a whooping 20,200 carats. Called the Malaga citrine, it was first discovered in the 1980s or 90s in the Governador Valadares municipality in Brazil. The Malaga beat out the previous record-holder, the “Sol del Sur” which weighed extraordinary 8200 carats.

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