November's birthstones are topaz, seen in yellow, orange, pink, blue and more, and citrine, a yellow to brownish orange quartz.
Topaz was November's only stone on the 1912 American list. Citrine joined it in the 1952 revision, and the match made sense: the two had long been confused, and both come in the warm yellows and oranges that suit late autumn. Today the month is split between a harder, more varied gem and a sturdy quartz. Topaz also comes in pink, brown and colorless forms, while most blue topaz owes its color to treatment.
Ancient Greeks believed topaz gave strength, and in Europe from the 1300s to the 1600s it was thought to thwart magic spells and dispel anger. Citrine takes its name from the French citron, lemon, and tradition held that it soothed tempers and calmed the wearer. Both stones also mark wedding anniversaries on the traditional calendar: blue topaz the 4th, Imperial topaz the 23rd, and citrine the 13th.
Topaz is its own mineral species and rates 8 on the Mohs scale, yet it has poor toughness and can be damaged by a hard knock. Colors run from colorless to yellow, orange, pink and brown, and the familiar blue is usually the result of treatment. Notable sources include Brazil, Pakistan, Russia, Namibia, Nigeria, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and the United States.
Citrine is yellow to orange quartz, with some stones leaning toward brownish orange. At 7 on the Mohs scale it handles normal wear well. Notable sources include Bolivia, Spain, Madagascar, Mexico and Uruguay. Much of the citrine from Brazil is heat-treated amethyst, which shows that the two gems share one mineral and links November's stone directly to February's.
Topaz is hard but not tough: avoid knocks, heat and sudden temperature changes, skip steam and ultrasonic cleaners, and wash it in warm soapy water. Coated mystic topaz should only see mild soap. Citrine is easier, and ultrasonic cleaning is usually fine, but steam is best avoided because high heat can crack it.
| US list | UK list | Japanese list (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| TopazCitrine | Topaz(Citrine) | TopazCitrine |
They are different minerals. Topaz is its own species at 8 on the Mohs scale; citrine is quartz at 7. Their warm yellows and oranges overlap so closely that the two were long confused, and they now share November.
Yes, topaz in any color counts. Blue topaz, usually treated, is the traditional 4th-anniversary gem. The UK's National Association of Jewellers lists topaz for November and names blue topaz as a December alternative.
JanuaryGarnet
FebruaryAmethyst
MarchAquamarine
AprilDiamond
MayEmerald
JunePearlMoonstoneAlexandrite
JulyRuby
AugustPeridotSpinel
SeptemberSapphire
OctoberOpalTourmaline
NovemberTopazCitrine
DecemberTurquoiseTanzaniteZirconBirthstones are a jewelry and cultural tradition, and their meanings are folklore. Gem facts are compiled from public material by GIA, the American Gem Society and Jewelers of America.