The birthstones associated with the month of November are topaz and citrine. Both of these gems come in a variety of colors, but they are not typically purple. So the November birthstone is not purple in most cases.
What is the November birthstone?
There are two birthstones associated with November – topaz and citrine. Here is some background on each of these gems:
- Topaz – This gemstone comes in a wide variety of colors, including blue, brown, yellow, pink, red, green and even clear. The most prized and valuable shade of topaz is a rich orange-yellow or brownish-yellow. These warm golden hues are what people generally think of when they picture topaz. The name “topaz” comes from the ancient Greek word “topazos” meaning “to seek” because people would search for these gems on island deposits long ago. Topaz is very hard and durable, ranking 8 on the Mohs hardness scale, which makes it suitable for jewelry wear. It is the birthstone for November as adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912. Topaz is the state gemstone of Utah.
- Citrine – This sunny yellow quartz stone is known as the “healing quartz” for its bright and uplifting energy. Most citrine on the market is heat treated amethyst that turns yellow or orange when heated to high temperatures. Natural citrine is rare and found in yellowish shades ranging from pale lemon to amber. The name comes from the French word “citron” meaning lemon. Like other quartz gems, citrine ranks 7 on the hardness scale so it is very durable for jewelry. Citrine became an alternate birthstone for November in 1952 as adopted by the National Association of Jewelers. It is also the state gem of South Carolina.
So in summary, topaz and citrine are considered the two modern birthstones for November. Neither are purple in color.
What colors can topaz and citrine be?
While topaz and citrine are not found naturally in purple, they can come in a wide spectrum of other colors:
Topaz Colors
- Blue – Topaz can form in various shades of blue from sky blue to Swiss blue. Blue topaz is sometimes mistaken for aquamarine.
- Brown – Golden brown and sherry colored topaz is the most prized and valuable variety. It is sometimes called precious topaz.
- Yellow – Yellow is the most common topaz color, ranging from pale yellow to golden orange-yellow.
- Pink – Rare pink topaz ranges from light pink to deep reddish pink that resembles ruby.
- Red – Red topaz is very rare and valuable. The color is due to chromium impurities.
- Green – Green is an uncommon color for topaz but it does occur naturally.
- Clear – Clear colorless topaz resembles diamond when cut properly, earning it the nickname “white topaz.”
Citrine Colors
- Yellow – Most citrine is yellow, ranging from pale yellow to yellowish brown and orange-yellow.
- Smoky – Natural smoky citrine is rare. More often, smoky quartz is heat treated to produce smoky citrine.
- Red – Natural red citrine is extremely rare. Again, more often amethyst is heated to produce red citrine.
- Green – Green citrine is also very rare and is colored by traces of iron.
- Blue – Citrine is not found naturally in blue but can be treated to produce blue-colored stones.
As you can see, topaz and citrine come in every color except purple. The purple varieties are manmade by treating colorless topaz or amethyst with radiation or heat to produce purple shades.
Why is amethyst the purple birthstone?
The traditional birthstone associated with November is yellow topaz. But in 1912, the National Association of Jewelers adopted amethyst as an alternate birthstone for November. Amethyst is a variety of crystalline quartz that naturally occurs in various shades of purple from light lavender to deep violet. Here’s why amethyst became linked with November:
- Color – The color purple has long been associated with royalty and ceremony. Purple evokes a sense of magic, mystery and spiritual enlightenment. Therefore, the regal color was an appealing choice.
- Availability – By the early 1900s, quality yellow topaz deposits were dwindling and becoming very expensive. Meanwhile, large amethyst deposits had been found in Brazil bringing the cost down. So amethyst was much more widely available and affordable than topaz at the time.
- Consumer interest – Consumers were drawn to the striking purple shades of amethyst, a color not seen in any other birthstones at the time.
So with its beautiful purple color, abundant supply, and consumer demand, amethyst was added as a birthstone option for November by jewelers in 1912.
Is amethyst really the November birthstone?
While amethyst is touted as the November birthstone, it is considered an alternate, non-traditional, or mystical birthstone for November. Citrine and topaz remain the primary modern birthstones. Here is clarification on the November birthstone confusion:
| Birthstone | Type |
|---|---|
| Topaz | Traditional and modern |
| Citrine | Modern (alternate added in 1952) |
| Amethyst | Non-traditional (alternate added in 1912) |
So while amethyst is considered a birthstone for November, it is not the primary traditional or modern birthstone. But its adoption as an alternate has confused many over the decades into thinking it is the true historical birthstone. November’s birthstones remain citrine and topaz.
Is citrine really a form of amethyst?
Some people believe that because citrine is often heat treated amethyst, it is essentially just a variety of amethyst. But this is inaccurate. True citrine and amethyst are separate mineral species that form under different conditions. Here’s the key difference:
- Citrine is a variety of quartz crystal that forms when trace amounts of iron are present. The iron gives citrine its yellow to brownish-red colors.
- Amethyst is also quartz but forms when trace amounts of iron are absent but radioactive elements like uranium are present. This radiation exposure is what causes the violet coloring of amethyst.
Heating an amethyst simply converts the iron impurities into a form that will produce a yellow color instead of purple. But the Citrine that results is manmade, not natural citrine that formed with iron present. So citrine has a separate geological origin from amethyst and is a unique quartz variety.
Conclusion
While the purple amethyst has been mistakenly associated with November, the traditional and actual modern birthstones for November are yellowish-orange topaz and citrine. Neither of these true November birthstones are found naturally in purple shades. Amethyst was added as an alternate in 1912 and its regal purple color led many to erroneously adopt it as the primary November birthstone. But citrine and topaz remain the true, historical birthstones for November.
