November's birthstones are topaz and citrine, and citrine is the one you'll actually find — yellow to golden-brown quartz, warm as autumn light. Worth knowing: most commercial citrine is heat-treated amethyst, which is a real process on a real stone rather than a fake, but it explains why so much of it is a uniform burnt orange.
Why citrine suits November
Citrine's reputation is optimism and abundance — the merchant's stone, kept in tills and cash boxes for luck. Given in November, the month the light properly goes, a stone that looks like stored sunshine is not a bad idea.
What to look for when buying
Natural citrine is usually a paler, smokier yellow; heat-treated amethyst runs deeper orange with white bases. Neither is wrong — just know which you're buying, and be suspicious of anything sold as natural at heat-treated prices.
The full guide to Citrine covers its chakra, care and everyday uses. Born this month, you'll also fall under Scorpio and Sagittarius — each has its own stones.
Citrine in the shop
Every month's birthstone
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