What is Red Citrine?
Burning like the sun, you watch as the reddish-orange stone glint in the light. Sparkling and bright, it reflects a breadth of fiery hues as it turns over your fingers. You’re holding a genuine red citrine gemstone. Citrine is a variety of quartz, ranging in color from crisp lemon yellow to a dusky burnt orange. Red citrine represents a handsome reddish-orange hue, a deeply colored treasure that only reflects a fifth of citrine coming from its mine.
Determining Red Citrine Value
Is red citrine valuable? The value of colored gemstones is typically determined by a combination of its color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. This is no different when determining what red citrine is worth. These guidelines will help you choose citrine stones for your collection.
- Red Citrine Color
The most crucial factor in choosing a red citrine gem is its hue, drawing comparisons to a burning coal. Taking its color from a charge transfer between oxygen and iron during formation, red citrine is a reddish-orange jewel. This red tone is rarely seen in citrine, adding to the mystique and rarity of this gem. Red citrine should be deeply saturated with even color displayed throughout the stone.
- Red Citrine Clarity
You’ll find that citrine stones fall under both Type I and Type II classifications. Type I gems are eye-clean, meaning inclusions cannot be viewed without the aid of 10x magnification. Type II gems may possess visible inclusions. These do not affect the value of the stone and are evidence of gems’ natural origin. When polished, red citrine takes on a glass-like shine which may also be described as a vitreous luster
- Red Citrine Cut
Thanks to the abundance and size of citrine rough, you’ll find this gem in a variety of shapes. Readily available in popular traditional and fancy cuts, expect to find citrine in most calibrated stone sizes.
- Red Citrine Carat
Citrine stones are available in a wide range of sizes, and red citrine is no exception. This variety of quartz is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to own a sizeable genuine gem, as there isn’t a significant increase for larger carat weights. Find red citrine in weights of under a carat up to several carats in size.
Red Citrine Treatment
A common practice for quartz in general, red citrine undergoes heat treatment. Heating the stone improves its color. Under normal conditions, the treatment is stable and permanent.
Caring for Red Citrine
Red citrine ranks seven on the Mohs scale of hardness, providing sufficient protection from potential scratches or abrasion. With a good toughness to protect from accidental chips or breaks, it’s a great choice for a durable gem to wear daily, or simply whenever you like.
Heat treatment of red citrine doesn’t require any special care. The safest way clean red citrine is with basic stone maintenance. Using a solution of warm, soapy water, scrub your stone with a soft bristled brush. Rinse with cool water, and pat dry with a soft lint-free cloth. Ultrasonic cleaners are usually safe to use with citrine, but steam cleaning isn’t recommended.
High heat may cause loss of color in red citrine, so it’s best to keep your gem away from sources of heat like stove elements or open flame. Prolonged exposure to light shouldn’t affect the gemstone. Avoid exposure to harsh chemicals such as hydrofluoric acid and ammonium fluoride. The best practice is to remove gemstone jewelry before undertaking any chore.
Store red citrine jewelry in a lined jewelry box or wrap in a soft cloth when it’s not worn. It’s best to store gemstone jewelry away from other jewels in your collection to avoid accidental scratches or other damage.
Who Can Wear Red Citrine?
Citrine is one of the most versatile stones on the market, and red citrine is no exception. It’s popular for its versatility, making it ideal for use in traditional pieces as well as experimental designer jewelry.
No one way ’s best for wearing red citrine, and it finds a home equally among rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. So no matter your tastes, you can safely wear this stone as you like.
The reddish-orange hue of red citrine readily lends itself to fall color palettes, working well with any neutrals you already own. It teams up well with oranges and reds of similar tone, making it a promising selection for summer. For contrast, try pairing the gem with violet-blues or bright greens.
Did you know that before modern gemology citrine was frequently mistaken for topaz? Traditional topaz displays a dusky brownish-orange of which red citrine pays homage. Citrine is also a traditional gift for the 13th wedding anniversary.
How Does Red Citrine Compare to Other Citrine Stones?
A Brazilian citrine, red citrine represents the upper range of deep color seen in this stone and draws the most comparison to Santa Ana Madeira Citrine. The stones stand apart due to the red undertone of red citrine.
If you love fire opal, red citrine is a pleasant option for anyone who appreciates the range of color seen in the upper range of fire opal, such as crimson fire opal.
Where Does Red Citrine Come From?
Finding citrine gemstones across the globe is easy. A major producer of the stone is Brazil, and citrine is sourced from across this South American country. Brazil is well-known for the quality of its minerals and gem crystals. Shop LC sources our supply of red citrine from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Rio Grande do Sul was a significant supplier of amethyst and citrine gemstones. Our supply of red citrine was sourced from the private collection of a vendor partner. Over the course of 20 years, they assembled a stunning array of rough stone. During JCK Las Vegas 2018, our buyers handpicked from this assortment the selection we offer today. From this, only about 15 to 20-percent of finished gems were of the color known as red citrine. Since this gem is no longer actively mined, there is no guarantee of future supply, and once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Red Citrine Properties
What Does Red Citrine Mean?
For centuries, citrine has been recognized for its healing properties. Due to its color, citrine is associated with vitality, illumination, and the sun.
Gem therapists tout the beneficial influence of citrine on the nervous system. The sunny nature of the stone is also ideal for combating feelings of stress and depression. Also, the stone is thought to improve metabolism and strengthen the immune system.
Disclaimer: For informational purposes only. These remedies, approaches, and techniques are not a substitute for professional medical care or treatment. They should not be used to treat any ailment without prior consultation with a qualified health care professional.
Is Red Citrine a Birthstone?
Topaz and citrine are the modern birthstones for November. The pairing is a natural choice, due to the history of confusion between traditional topaz and darkly colored and deeply saturated citrine. Red citrine is a fantastic choice for anyone who wants a fun example of this classic color.
Red Citrine Facts
- Red citrine ranks seven on the Mohs scale.
- This gem occurs in a deeply saturated reddish orange.
- Shop LC sources our supply of red citrine from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
- This stone undergoes heat treatment to improve color.