Like its close sibling Amethyst, Citrine is an ancient crystal which was used decoratively by both the Egyptians and Greeks. Having such a long and storied history, it can be difficult to pinpoint an exact date this particular gem was discovered, but it’s quite likely these original Citrines came from naturally heated Amethysts. This is based on the knowledge that these Citrines were rumored to have been found very close to Amethyst sites. However, despite the fact that these stones were very likely Citrine as we know it today, the name Citrine was only developed around the late 1300’s and didn’t quite mean what it means today. Obviously the name Citrine conjures the thought of lemons, oranges, or even limes like its latin root citrus. Back before geology and gemology were as developed and unscrupulous as they are today, any yellow or orange gemstone could go by the name Citrine. This included mainly Golden Topaz, a much more coveted gem in today’s world, which is made further confusing by the fact that some countries where both stones are mined use the names Citrine and Topaz almost interchangeably. For example Brazil calls Topaz Precious Topaz and Citrine Topaz. However, this only rarely affects those of us in the U.S. due to the difference in hardness, crystal structure, and price between these two November birthstones! Citrine as the yellow member of the Quartz family rocks a hardy 7 on the Mohs scale where Topaz boasts a solid 8, and their different structure makes it incredibly simple for any gemologist to tell the difference between these sunny stones.