November · Yellow to amber

November birthstone: Topaz

November carries 2 official stones — Topaz, Citrine.

Modern birthstone Topaz, Citrine
Traditional birthstone Topaz
Colour Yellow to amber
Birth flower Chrysanthemum and Peony
Zodiac signs Scorpio, Sagittarius
Hardness (Mohs) 8

For centuries any yellow stone was called topaz. The confusion ran so deep that citrine — actually a quartz — is still often sold as topaz today.

November stones in detail

Topaz

Composition Aluminium fluorosilicate (Al₂SiO₄(F,OH)₂)
Hardness · Crystal system 8 · Orthorhombic
Mined in Brazil, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka

Nearly all blue topaz on the market began as colourless stone, irradiated and heated to produce the colour.

Traditionally linked to confidence, clear intention and honest self-assessment.

Care. Warm soapy water only. No ultrasonic and no steam: topaz has perfect basal cleavage and can split along it.

Spotting a fake. Nearly all blue topaz began as colourless stone that was irradiated and heated. That is standard and legal, but it makes any claim of natural blue topaz worth questioning.

Citrine

Composition Silicon dioxide (SiO₂) — quartz coloured by iron
Hardness · Crystal system 7 · Trigonal
Mined in Brazil, Madagascar, Russia, Spain

Natural citrine is uncommon. Most stones sold as citrine are heat-treated amethyst — the giveaway is a concentrated colour near the tip.

Traditionally associated with enterprise, optimism and material momentum.

Care. Warm soapy water. Keep out of prolonged sunlight, which fades it.

Spotting a fake. Most citrine on the market is heat-treated amethyst. The giveaway is colour concentrated at the tip with a paler base; natural citrine is more evenly coloured and smokier.

November birth flowers

Chrysanthemum

Traditionally signifies friendship and honest cheer.

Peony

Traditionally signifies good fortune and a happy marriage.

More on November birth flowers →

If you go by zodiac sign instead

November spans two signs — Scorpio and Sagittarius — and the zodiac stone list does not match the monthly one. Which applies to you depends on the day, not just the month.

Scorpio stones · Sagittarius stones

Questions about the November birthstone

What is the birthstone for November?

Topaz, Citrine in the modern list.

What colour is the November birthstone?

Yellow to amber.

What is the November birth flower?

Chrysanthemum and Peony — signifying friendship and honest cheer.

Is it hard enough to wear every day?

Topaz sits at 8 on the Mohs scale. That is hard enough for a ring in daily wear.

Other months

January February March April May June July August September October December