CITRINE
Citrine, a bright shining gem, said to be a gift from the Sun, is a gemstone that personifies happiness and is recognized as the gem of success, positivity, and growth. Citrine is a French word that means lemon. It has a distinct amber hue which is similar to leaves scattered on an autumn afternoon.
Natural citrine stones have been in existence for so long and have been valued since around 300 BC for their bright and attractive yellow colors. It is believed that people first started using it as a decorative item, and later started wearing it as jewelry.
Many ancient civilizations believed that it concealed the power of the Sun. The vibrant yellow colors of Citrine come from traces of iron in the quartz. However, the citrine stone hues can range from pale yellow and reddish-orange to earth tones of smoky quartz.
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In Ancient Greece, the stone was used as a decorative gem during the Hellenistic Age between 300 and 150 BC. In the 17th century, Scottish men used it for decorative purposes on the handles of swords and daggers. There is also a record of entire sword handles that were made from citrine. Citrine was very popular during the ‘Art Deco Era’ between World War I and World War II. Citrine could also be seen on Queen Victoria’s 17th-century outfits.
Citrine is mainly sourced from Bolivia, several African countries, Brazil, and various parts of the Soviet Union. It is said to be scratch-proof to a large extent as it has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Citrine is the birthstone of people born in November. It is believed that the citrine jewelry brings a hint of sunshine to the dull days of November.
Citrine is plentiful as compared to other gemstones and is available in a wide range of shapes and sizes. It is also one of the most popular and affordable gemstones and requires low maintenance. Today, natural citrines have become scarce and considerately expensive. So, to fulfil the growing demand for this gemstone, amethysts are often heat treated to produce more citrine. This transition is possible because both citrine and amethyst belong to the quartz family and have the same chemical composition. This is the reason this gem became more affordable while its popularity remains unharmed.
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Jewelry made from this stone requires extra care. Since this stone is heat-treated, so it may fade when exposed to heat. Therefore, one should avoid boiling or steam cleaning their citrine jewelry. Instead of boiling or steam cleaning, one can use ultrasonic cleaning. Another way to clean this jewelry is by adding mild detergent in lukewarm water and using a soft brush.
Benefits of Citrine: –
- It clears out negativity from the mind of the wearer.
- It controls the spending of money and infuses the quality of generosity to share the wisdom and wealth it showers upon its wearer.
- It has spiritual features which generate positive energy and reduce depression.
- It increases self-confidence and provides clarity of mind.
- It benefits in curing diseases of the liver, heart, thyroid, urinary system, and kidney.
- It also cures sleeping disorders and detoxifies the body and thus improves digestion.
- It brings success and prosperity to the wearer.
- It also promotes happiness in the lives of married couples.
- It provides protection to pregnant women.
- It illuminates the inner thought process while triggering the creativity of artists and writers.
- It boosts the stamina of the wearer as it is associated with the Third Eye Chakra and the Solar Plexus. Citrine activates and balances these two chakras and thus amplifies stamina.
- It boosts positivity and creates new hopes as it does not absorb negative energies, but throws them away.