November Birthstone: Topaz and Citrine Meaning, Colour and Gift Ideas

What is the November Birthstone?

November babies, you lucky things, you get two. The November birthstones are topaz and citrine, a pair of golden gems that glow like candlelight just as the nights draw in. While the rest of us are hunting for our gloves, you get to carry a little pocketful of sunshine around with you.

Topaz is the traditional November birthstone, and citrine joined it on the official list in the 1950s. They look so alike that for centuries people could not tell them apart, yet they are two completely different minerals with their own stories to tell. This guide is our love letter to both: what they mean, where they come from, and how to choose the right one for you (or for the November soul you are shopping for). You can browse our handmade November birthstone jewellery any time the mood takes you.

November Birthstones at a Glance

	Topaz	Citrine
Colour	Golden yellow to amber, plus blue, pink and colourless	Pale lemon to deep honey
Meaning	Strength, confidence, loyalty and good fortune	Joy, abundance, creativity and success
Chakras	Solar plexus	Sacral and solar plexus
Mineral	Topaz, a silicate of aluminium and fluorine	Quartz
Found in	Brazil, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Russia, Nigeria	Brazil, Bolivia, Madagascar, Zambia
Mohs hardness	8	7
Zodiac	Scorpio (23 October to 21 November) and Sagittarius (22 November to 21 December)

What Colour is the November Birthstone?

The November birthstone colour is golden yellow, in every shade from pale lemon to deep, toasty amber. Think of the last leaves clinging to the trees, a pot of honey on the windowsill, or the glow of a bonfire on a frosty night. Citrine sits at the lighter, sunnier end, while golden topaz runs warmer and richer, sometimes with a blush of peach or sherry-orange.

Topaz has a few surprises up its sleeve too. It comes in blue, pink and perfectly colourless, but when people talk about the November birthstone colour, it is that warm autumn gold they mean.

Topaz Meaning: The Stone of Strength and Good Fortune

Topaz has been dazzling people for a very long time. Its name may come from the Sanskrit word tapas, meaning fire, or from Topazios, the old Greek name for a misty island in the Red Sea. The ancient Greeks believed it gave them strength, and in medieval Europe it was worn as a charm to break spells and cool hot tempers. Handy, if you ask us.

The most treasured variety is imperial topaz, a glowing golden-orange with a hint of pink, said to be named in honour of the Russian tsars who kept the finest stones for themselves. Today the best of it comes from Ouro Preto in Brazil.

The topaz meaning is all about strength, confidence and good fortune. It is a stone of loyalty and true friendship, linked with the solar plexus chakra, your inner sun and the seat of your personal power. We think of it as a tiny golden backbone: a reminder to stand tall, trust yourself and go after what you want.

Blue Topaz Meaning

Blue topaz is the cool, calm cousin of the golden kind. Where yellow topaz is all fire and confidence, the blue topaz meaning leans towards clear thinking, honest words and a peaceful mind, and it is linked with the throat chakra. It is also one of the December birthstones, so late-November babies can happily claim it from both sides.

What is Mystic Topaz?

Mystic topaz is natural colourless topaz given a whisper-thin coating that makes it flash with rainbow colours: violet, green, blue and gold, all dancing in one little stone. It is pure magic to look at, like a drop of oil on water or the northern lights caught in a gem. Our mini mystic topaz heart necklace is a favourite for November birthdays with a mischievous streak.

Citrine Meaning: The Stone of Joy and Abundance

So, what is citrine? Citrine is the golden member of the quartz family, a sister to amethyst and smoky quartz. Its name comes from citron, the French word for lemon, and natural citrine really is that fresh, pale, lemony gold. It is rarer than you might think. Much of the bright orange citrine you see for sale began life as amethyst and was heated to change its colour, which is why every piece of citrine we sell is natural.

Citrine has long been known as the merchant's stone or the success stone, traditionally tucked into shop tills and purses to invite prosperity. The citrine meaning is joy, abundance and creativity. It is linked with the sacral and solar plexus chakras, and it is the stone we reach for when we want to feel bright, bold and ready to make things happen. If topaz is a golden backbone, citrine is a golden grin.

For the full story, wander over to our complete guide to citrine. It also stars in our guides to crystals for manifesting and gemstones for confidence.

Citrine vs Topaz: What is the Difference?

They may look like twins, but they are not even related.

• Different minerals: citrine is quartz, while topaz is a mineral all of its own.
• Hardness: topaz scores 8 on the Mohs scale and citrine scores 7. Both are happy to be worn every day.
• Colour: citrine stays in the yellow and honey family. Topaz roams across gold, blue, pink and clear.
• Energy: topaz is steady strength and loyalty. Citrine is sunshine, play and fresh ideas.
• Price: citrine is usually the more affordable of the two, with fine imperial topaz at the top of the tree.

Topaz or Citrine: Which November Birthstone is for You?

There is no wrong answer, but here is how we like to think about it.

• Choose topaz if you are loyal to the bone, quietly determined, and the friend everyone calls when things get serious.
• Choose citrine if you are the one with the big ideas and the bigger laugh, forever starting something new.
• Choose both if you are a November baby who wants the whole sunset. We approve.

November Birthstones and the Zodiac

November is shared by two signs. Deep, magnetic Scorpio (23 October to 21 November) has long been paired with topaz, a fittingly fiery stone for a sign that never does anything by halves. Adventurous Sagittarius (22 November to 21 December) is a natural match for citrine's optimism and wanderlust. For more star-sign pairings, have a read of our guide to gemstone jewellery for your zodiac sign.

How to Wear and Care for November Birthstones

Good news: both of these golden beauties are tough enough for everyday adventures. A little care keeps them glowing.

• Topaz is hard but can chip if it takes a sharp knock, so take rings off for the heavy lifting.
• Mystic topaz has a delicate coating. Skip the abrasive cleaners and wipe it gently with a soft cloth.
• Citrine can fade if it sunbathes for too long, so store it away from a bright windowsill.
• Wash both in warm soapy water, rinse well and dry with a soft cloth.

Worn as a necklace, either stone sits close to the heart and catches the light beautifully. To keep the energy of your stones feeling fresh, see our guide to cleansing your crystals. Moonlight and smoke are the kindest methods for both.

November Birthstone Necklaces and Gift Ideas

A November birthday falls right in the cosiest part of the year, and a birthstone is a gift that glows back. Here are a few of our favourites.

• Our mini natural citrine heart necklace is a tiny faceted heart of golden natural citrine on recycled sterling silver or 9ct gold, a little ray of November sunshine.
• For the nature lover, our natural citrine hand carved leaf necklace is a single golden leaf, like autumn itself on a chain.
• For a simple everyday November birthstone necklace, the natural citrine vegan silk necklace is light, delicate and easy to layer.
• For a touch of rainbow magic, the mini mystic topaz heart necklace.
• For a stack of sunshine on the wrist, see our citrine bracelets.
• Looking for a November birthstone ring, or simply want to see everything? Explore the full November birthstone jewellery collection.
• Not sure which they would choose? Browse our gift ideas or let them pick with a gift voucher.

Every piece is cleansed, energy infused, vegan and cruelty free, and 5% of all proceeds go to Pacific Wild to help protect the Great Bear Rainforest.

November Birthstone FAQs

What is the birthstone for November?

November has two birthstones: topaz and citrine. Topaz is the traditional stone and citrine is the modern addition.

What colour is the November birthstone?

Golden yellow. Citrine ranges from pale lemon to deep honey, and golden topaz from warm yellow to amber-orange.

Why does November have two birthstones?

Birthstone lists have been updated over the years to give people more choice of colour and price. Topaz and citrine look so similar that they were confused for centuries, so it felt natural to pair them.

What does the November birthstone mean?

Topaz stands for strength, confidence, loyalty and good fortune. Citrine stands for joy, abundance, creativity and success.

Is citrine a birthstone?

Yes. Citrine is one of the two birthstones for November, alongside topaz.

Is citrine the same as yellow topaz?

No. Citrine is a variety of quartz, while topaz is a separate, harder mineral. They simply share the same golden colouring.

Is blue topaz a November birthstone?

Golden topaz is the classic November stone, while blue topaz is usually listed for December. If blue is your colour, wear it with pride either way.

What is the birthstone for Scorpio and Sagittarius?

Topaz is the stone most often paired with Scorpio, and citrine is a lovely match for November-born Sagittarians.

Can I wear topaz and citrine every day?

Yes. Both are hard-wearing stones. Just keep them away from hard knocks and long spells in strong sunlight.

Explore More Birthstones

Shopping for another month? See every stone in our guide to birthstone jewellery by month, read up on December's turquoise and tanzanite or January's garnet, or lose yourself in our A-Z crystal guide. And if golden stones make your heart sing, our yellow calcite guide is waiting for you.