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Most people born in November have no idea their birth month comes with two stones. Some will call it citrine, others will say topaz, and both are right. That is not a disagreement. November genuinely has two official birthstones, each with its own character, colour range, and history running back centuries.
Choosing between them isn't simply a matter of preference. They look different, behave differently in jewellery, and carry different meanings. Understanding both makes the decision easier, whether you are buying for yourself or choosing a gift for a November birthday.
Manna Jewellers in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter stocks gemstone rings, pendants, and earrings in 9ct and 18ct gold. Browse the gemstone rings collection to see what is available, or visit the showroom where both stones can be compared in natural light.
November has two birthstones: topaz and citrine. Both are officially recognised.
The most prized November birthstone colour for topaz is Imperial Topaz, a rich orange-pink mined primarily in Brazil.
Blue topaz is the most commercially available topaz variety today, though it is not the traditional November stone.
Citrine is a yellow-to-amber variety of quartz. Its November birthstone colour runs from pale lemon to deep Madeira amber.
Topaz scores 8 on the Mohs hardness scale. Citrine scores 7. Both suit everyday jewellery in the right setting.
The November birthstone meaning for topaz centres on strength, protection, and affection. Citrine is linked to joy, warmth, and abundance.
Topaz is the traditional gift for the 4th and 23rd wedding anniversaries. Citrine is given for the 13th.
Topaz is a silicate mineral that scores 8 on the Mohs scale, making it one of the hardest gemstones in nature. It comes in a wider range of colours than most people expect. The name comes from "Topazios," the ancient Greek name for a small island in the Red Sea, though historians have long debated whether the stones found there were what we now classify as topaz.
Citrine is a variety of quartz, yellow to orange in colour from trace amounts of iron in the crystal. The name comes from the Old French "citrin," meaning lemon-coloured. Most citrine sold today is heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz, which converts to citrine's warm tones under heat. Natural citrine exists but tends to be paler.
Topaz was the original November stone. The golden orange shades historically associated with the month were tied to the harvest season, the fading warmth of autumn, and the symbolic link between warm-toned stones and the sun.
Citrine was added in 1952 when the modern birthstone calendar was updated. Natural golden topaz became expensive and hard to source, and citrine offered a more accessible stone with a comparable warm colour palette. The two now stand as equals rather than a primary and a secondary, and the choice between them comes down to colour preference, budget, and the setting style you have in mind.
Imperial Topaz is the rarest and most valuable variety. It's a rich orange with pink or golden undertones, traditionally mined in Ouro Preto, Brazil. The Imperial designation came from 19th-century Russia, where the finest stones from the Ural Mountains were reserved for the royal family. At auction, untreated Imperial Topaz regularly outperforms other topaz varieties by a significant margin.
Blue Topaz is the most commercially familiar variety today. Natural blue topaz is extremely pale, so almost all blue topaz in jewellery has been irradiated and heat-treated. Swiss Blue is a medium vivid blue. London Blue is deeper, with a slight grey or teal undertone. The blue varieties are often associated with December as well, which causes some confusion in buying guides. For a November birthstone gift, golden and orange topaz has the stronger historical connection to the month.
Golden and yellow topaz sits between Imperial Topaz and colourless in its warm colour. Sometimes called Precious Topaz in the trade, it is the shade most directly linked to November's autumn associations.
Citrine ranges from pale lemon yellow through warm honey-gold to the deep brownish-orange shades called Madeira Citrine, named after the wine they resemble in colour. The mid-range honey tones pair naturally with yellow gold and suit most skin tones well. The Madeira shades can read almost cognac in artificial light, which is striking in evening jewellery.
|
Stone |
Colour range |
Most prized shade |
Setting suggestion |
|
Imperial Topaz |
Orange to orange-pink |
Deep orange-pink, no brown tint |
Yellow or rose gold |
|
Blue Topaz (Swiss Blue) |
Medium vivid blue |
Bright, saturated mid-blue |
White gold |
|
Blue Topaz (London Blue) |
Deep greyish-blue |
Rich inky blue |
White or yellow gold |
|
Golden Topaz |
Pale to medium yellow-gold |
Warm golden tone |
Yellow gold |
|
Citrine (lemon) |
Pale to medium yellow |
Clear, cool yellow |
White or yellow gold |
|
Citrine (honey gold) |
Warm golden-amber |
Deep honey tone |
Yellow gold |
|
Madeira Citrine |
Deep amber to cognac |
Rich wine-brown-orange |
Yellow or rose gold |
Topaz has been associated with strength and protection for over two thousand years. Ancient Greeks believed it could make its wearer invisible in danger. Medieval Europeans thought it broke enchantments and calmed fury. The golden-orange varieties were linked to the sun across several traditions, which gave them a natural resonance with November's position in the year.
In modern tradition, the topaz birthstone meaning centres on affection, loyalty, and resilience. It is the traditional anniversary stone for the 4th and 23rd years of marriage.
Citrine has long been called the merchant's stone in European folk tradition. Traders carried it as a talisman against bad luck and financial misfortune. Its warm yellow colour has been associated with abundance, warmth, and positive energy in cultures across the Mediterranean and into northern Europe.
The November birthstone meaning for citrine is more immediately joyful than topaz. Where topaz is protective and strengthening, citrine is uplifting and optimistic. It is the traditional anniversary stone for the 13th year of marriage.
Topaz at 8 on the Mohs scale is harder and more scratch-resistant than citrine. The key thing to know is its cleavage: a sharp impact at the right angle can split topaz cleanly along its natural cleavage plane. A bezel or half-bezel setting that protects the stone's edges reduces that risk considerably for a ring worn daily.
Citrine at 7 is softer and will accumulate surface scratches more readily over the years, but it lacks the cleavage issue. For pendants or earrings, where contact is low, the difference barely matters.
Expert tip: Under UK hallmarking law, as set out by the British Jewellers' Association, any gold jewellery above 1 gram must carry a hallmark with three marks: the Assay Office mark, the Sponsor's mark, and the Fineness mark showing the gold's purity. Importantly, the weight of any gemstone set into the piece does not count toward that threshold, so a citrine or topaz ring in 9ct or 18ct gold should always carry a hallmark regardless of how large the stone is. When buying November birthstone jewellery, checking for all three marks on the setting confirms the metal is exactly what the retailer says it is.
Topaz has been associated with strength, protection, and loyalty for over two thousand years. Ancient Greeks believed it gave physical strength. Medieval Europeans used it against enchantments. Its golden-orange varieties were specifically tied to the sun and the harvest season, giving it a natural connection to November. Citrine's history is more commercial than mystical: carried as a talisman by traders in European folk tradition, it became known as the merchant's stone and was associated with abundance, warmth, and good fortune. Together, the two stones cover November with a wider range of colour and meaning than either could alone.
November has two official birthstones: topaz and citrine. Topaz is a silicate mineral that scores 8 on the Mohs scale and comes in golden-orange, blue, pink, and colourless varieties. Citrine is a yellow-to-amber quartz variety scoring 7. Both were formally listed as November birthstones when the modern birthstone calendar was updated in 1952. Neither replaces the other. They are equally valid choices for November birthstone jewellery, and the right one depends on the colour preference and the setting style you have in mind.
Topaz was the original November stone, associated with the warm golden shades of the harvest season. Citrine was added in 1952 as a widely available, more affordable alternative after natural golden topaz became expensive to source. The addition was partly practical and partly a recognition that citrine's warm yellow-orange tones made it a natural companion stone for November's colour palette. Both now carry equal standing, unlike some months where one stone is clearly primary and the other a secondary alternative.
The November birthstone colour ranges across two distinct stones. For topaz, the traditional November colour is the warm orange-pink of Imperial Topaz, though blue topaz is the most commercially common variety today. For citrine, the colour runs from pale lemon yellow through warm honey-gold to the deep cognac tones of Madeira Citrine. In general, the golden-orange shades of both stones have the strongest historical connection to November, reflecting the season's warmth before winter arrives.
Manna Jewellers in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter offers gemstone rings and pendants in 9ct and 18ct yellow, white, and rose gold. The gemstone rings collection includes a range of coloured stone settings, and the bespoke design service can create a topaz or citrine piece to a specific brief, including the exact stone colour, carat, and setting style. For a personalised November birthstone commission, book an appointment to discuss the design in person with the team at the Jewellery Quarter workshop.
Manna Jewellers has been in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter for over 40 years. Gemstone rings, pendants, and earrings are available in 9ct and 18ct yellow, white, and rose gold, all hand-finished in the on-site workshop at Hockley Street. The bespoke design service handles fully individual commissions for anyone who wants a November birthstone piece made to their exact brief, including choice of stone colour, setting style, and gold carat. Book an appointment to view gemstone pieces in person.
Birthstone rings: the perfect gift for every month: covers the full UK birthstone calendar with meaning, colour, and style notes for all twelve months, including November's citrine and topaz alongside every other birth month.
September birthstone: sapphire colour, meaning and history: sapphire scores 9 on the Mohs scale and makes a useful comparison point for understanding how topaz and citrine sit in the wider gemstone hardness spectrum when choosing a stone for daily wear.
A guide to precious and semi-precious gemstones: explains how gemstones are classified and what the precious vs semi-precious distinction actually means today, relevant context for understanding where topaz and citrine sit in the market.
