Topaz is the traditional birthstone for November. One of the most historically-cited gemstones, topaz can come in a variety of colors including blue, orange, yellow, red, pink, blue, and clear. While blue topaz is the most popular, the golden-yellow imperial topaz is rare and remains the most sought after variety.
A hard, durable gemstone, topaz is most likely named after its first place of origin – the ancient island of Topazos in the Red Sea. Worn for protection from injury and death, or even to improve eyesight, topaz is a rare and valuable gem.
The modern birthstone for November is citrine. A rare natural variation of quartz, citrine exhibits a warm yellow coloring ranging from pale to a deep orange hue. Citrine’s coloring comes from small particles of iron embedded within the quartz, which oxidizes and gives citrine its characteristic lemon (in French, “citron”) color. It was thought to ward off evil thoughts with its sunny and intricate appearance.