You might think citrine having magical powers is bogus and to no one’s surprise… you’re right. There is no evidence that citrine has magical powers that will somehow uplift your life. However, let’s travel back in time to see how this rumor started.

Citrine radiates the vibrant colors of the sun, so there's no wonder why some people believe it gives off positive vibes. In ancient times, the Greeks and Romans thought citrine carried the power of the sun god, bringing abundance, vitality, and protection. In the middle ages, citrine was believed to ward off negative energies and was worn as an amulet to bring good fortune and guard against enchantments and sorcery. It also earned the name of the ‘Merchant’s Stone,’ bringing prosperity and wealth to the ones who wore this lucky gem.

Fast forward to modern times, citrine is associated with the law of attraction, bringing success, good fortune, and a companion. Within the realm of crystal healing and alternative therapies, citrine is believed to stimulate self-confidence and manifestation. Citrine's energy-boosting powers are said to help you pick-up-the-pieces, start fresh, and get you feeling sunny again.

Natural citrine is rare as it is a pastel yellow rather than a vivid, more saturated yellow. Believe it or not, citrine’s sister stone, amethyst actually gives her life. Amethyst is formed within volcanic rock and when it is heated under high temperatures, amethyst can turn into citrine, creating November’s birthstone.

However, because this occurrence is so rare, most citrine you find on the market has undergone heat-treatment. Just like the natural process, smoky quartz in addition to amethyst are heated to produce citrine. Turning from purple to yellow, sometimes the two become conjoined, resulting in a captivating bi-color gem.

Sometimes it's hard to imagine that the gemstones we admire today played a significant role in people's lives hundreds of years ago. The Medieval Celts and Scots believed that citrine pendants would protect them from many things: the plague, bad skin and evil thoughts, just to name a few. 

Medieval Scots even went as far as believing that citrine could heal bite wounds from Scotland's only venomous snake, the adder. Don't try this at home, it's only folklore! 

By the time the 17th century rolled around, Scottish men had started using November's birthstone as decorative pieces in the handles of their swords and daggers for luck. 

Citrine can be found worldwide, but nothing is quite as rare as citrine found in Scotland. Because of the history of citrine in Scotland and the rarity of the stones, Scottish grown citrines are highly collectible.

It wasn’t until 1556 that citrine went by the name we recognize today. Before then, we would just call this radiant yellow gem ‘yellow quartz.’ Kind of a boring name for such a vibrant gem, right? 

The more well-known origin for the citrine gemstone is the French word ‘citron,’ meaning lemon. However, some people can be a little bitter towards this fact as they believe citrine comes from the Latin word ‘citrina,’ which means yellow. There are two sides to this debate, however, it all comes down to one name. Both ‘citron’ and ‘citrina’ are derived from the Latin word ‘citrus.’ 

Either way, we can all agree that citrine has a truly zesty name that matches its radiant looks.

To put this fun tidbit into perspective, the average citrine is typically 25 carats. In 1990, this monstrous gem was discovered in the Mina Gerais mine in Brazil, the main supplier of citrine, and has been faceted into what is now called the “Malaga.” Weighing at almost nine pounds, you can see this hunk of citrine in the “Special Exhibition Gems” section of Art Natura in Spain. Or at least used to. The whereabouts of this enormous gem is now a mystery.