Citrine for Men: Meaning, Myths and How to Wear It

Yellow makes most men nervous. It feels loud on a shirt and risky on a jumper. In a single stone, though, it does something no other colour quite manages: it looks warm without looking flashy. That's the case for citrine, and for a citrine necklace in particular.

Here we cover what citrine actually is, why so much of it began life as a different stone, the eras that loved it most, the meanings attached to it, and how to wear yellow without second-guessing it.

Yellow and gold, worn against black. Featured: Melted Citrine Gemstone Necklace (Gold).

Jump to:

• What is citrine?
• Citrine's golden eras
• What does citrine mean?
• Why yellow is worth trying
• Real citrine or citrine-coloured?
• How to wear citrine
• Our citrine necklaces
• Keeping the yellow bright
• Citrine for November
• FAQs

What Is Citrine?

Citrine is yellow quartz, the same mineral as amethyst and rock crystal, coloured by tiny traces of iron. Its name comes from the French citron, meaning lemon, though the stone runs all the way from pale straw to a deep, almost cognac-coloured orange.

Here's the part most people don't know: natural citrine is genuinely uncommon, and it's usually quite pale. Much of the golden citrine you see for sale started out as amethyst or smoky quartz and was heated until it turned yellow. Brazil, which has vast amethyst deposits, supplies a large share of it.

Occasionally nature does the job halfway. Ametrine, found almost entirely in one region of Bolivia, is a single crystal that's purple at one end and yellow at the other.

No two settings quite the same shape. Featured: Melted Citrine Gemstone Necklace (Gold).

Citrine's Golden Eras

Yellow quartz was carved and worn in the ancient world, but citrine really had its moments much later.

• Victorian Scotland. Queen Victoria's love of the Highlands made Scottish jewellery fashionable across Britain, and yellow quartz turned up on kilt pins, brooches and the hilts of ceremonial daggers worn with Highland dress.
• The 1930s and 40s. Big, boldly cut citrines became a favourite of the period's statement jewellery, partly because they gave a lot of colour for far less than a precious stone.
• Now. Warm yellow stones have come back as men move beyond plain silver chains and look for one piece with a bit of colour in it.

What Does Citrine Mean?

Nearly everything citrine is said to stand for comes back to sunlight. These meanings are folklore and tradition, not anything a stone can be relied on to deliver.

Good fortune in business

Citrine is the stone most closely tied to money. Shopkeepers were once said to keep a piece in the till, and you'll still hear it called a stone for anyone starting out on their own.

A brighter outlook

Optimism and energy have attached themselves to the colour of morning light in almost every culture. Our own citrine pieces describe the stone as a source of abundance and positivity.

Confidence to start something

Because of those two meanings together, citrine is often given at the beginning of things: a first job, a new business, a move to a new city.

Warmth and generosity

A sunny stone ended up meaning a sunny nature. In older traditions citrine was a stone for sharing good fortune, not just holding on to it.

Warm stones on warm skin. Featured: Melted Citrine Gemstone Necklace (Gold).

Why Yellow Is Worth Trying

Most men's jewellery boxes run on three colours: silver, gold and black. Citrine is the easiest way out of that rut, for a few reasons.

• It's warm, not loud. A small yellow stone reads more like candlelight than a highlighter. It softens a dark outfit rather than shouting over it.
• It sits beside gold naturally. If you already wear a gold chain or ring, citrine looks like an extension of what you have, not a new direction.
• It's still unusual. Plenty of men wear green or blue stones. Far fewer wear yellow, which means it gets noticed.

Real Citrine or Citrine-Coloured?

With most natural citrine pale and much of the golden stuff made from heated amethyst, buying the real thing means knowing exactly what you're paying for. A gem lab can tell you whether a stone's colour is natural or the result of heating.

Our yellow pieces take a simpler route. They use citrine-coloured stones, picked for an even, golden yellow, held in frames of gold or silver and protected by a coating that resists scratches. You keep the warmth and the story, and skip the hunt for a stone that may not exist at a sensible price.

How to Wear Citrine

Make it your only bright colour

Citrine works when it has the stage to itself. Black, white, navy, grey, olive and denim all give it room. Avoid other strong colours near it, especially red or bright blue.

Gold to blend, silver to frame

In gold, citrine melts into the metal and the whole necklace glows. In silver, there's a clear line between stone and setting, and the yellow looks lighter and more graphic. Try gold first if you're unsure.

Silver makes the yellow sharper. Featured: Melted Citrine Gemstone Necklace (Silver).

Think about the season

Citrine is an easy summer stone over a white T-shirt or a linen shirt worn unbuttoned. In winter, against a dark roll neck or a charcoal coat, it's even better: a small, warm point of colour on a grey day.

Keep the length simple

Both of our citrine necklaces are made to sit just below the collarbone, where any crew neck or unbuttoned collar shows them off. There's no need to layer them; a plain chain alongside is plenty.

Wondering how citrine compares with the rest? Our gemstone meanings guide sets it alongside the rest of our range.

Our Citrine Necklaces

Two necklaces, each made in gold and silver, listed by how well they've sold in the past year.

The Melted Citrine Gemstone Necklace

The one that sells best. The Melted Citrine Gemstone Necklace sets citrine-coloured stones in settings that look as if the metal was poured around each one and left to cool. Behind every stone the frame is cut away, so light comes through from the back as well as the front. Pale opals, small yellow clovers and crystals break up the line, and the snap-proof clasp keeps it closed. The model wears it at 50cm, in 18ct gold or silver.

It catches whatever light there is. Featured: Melted Citrine Gemstone Necklace (Gold).

Lemon against steel. Featured: Melted Citrine Gemstone Necklace (Silver).

Both metals at once, if you're feeling brave. Featured: Melted Citrine Gemstone Necklace (Silver).

The Yellow Gemstone Clover Necklace

A neater, more ordered take. The Yellow Gemstone Clover Necklace alternates rectangular yellow stones with open four-leaf clovers, each stone held in a bezel with bevelled edges that deepen the colour. It's 50cm long and comes in 18ct gold or silver. If the clover itself appeals, this piece on the four-leaf clover explains where the symbol comes from.

Stone, clover, stone. Featured: Yellow Gemstone Clover Necklace (Gold).

Rectangular stones, open clovers. Featured: Yellow Gemstone Clover Necklace (Gold).

Leather and a little yellow. Featured: Yellow Gemstone Clover Necklace (Gold).

The same chain, cooler. Featured: Yellow Gemstone Clover Necklace (Silver).

Bright stones, bright metal. Featured: Yellow Gemstone Clover Necklace (Silver).

Prefer yellow as one colour among several? The Gemstone Necklace is the fastest-selling necklace we make, with amber hues beside ruby, amethyst and emerald. Browse every colour in our gemstone jewellery.

Keeping the Yellow Bright

Yellow shows grime faster than any other stone colour, so it's worth five minutes of care.

• Dress first, necklace last. Sun cream, aftershave and fragrance leave a film that turns a bright yellow murky.
• Stay dry. Leave it off for showers, the gym, the pool and the sea. Chlorine and salt water slowly attack the plating and the settings.
• Polish gently. A soft cloth after wearing brings the shine straight back. No dips or harsh cleaners.
• Store it flat. Lay it in its box or a pouch on its own so the stones don't rub against other pieces.

Citrine for November

Citrine is one of November's two birthstones, alongside topaz, which makes it a ready-made birthday present for anyone born that month. Its link with prosperity also makes it a fitting way to mark a new job, a promotion or the first year of a business. A Melted Citrine Gemstone Necklace in its gift box does the job without needing a speech.

Citrine FAQs

What does citrine mean for a man?

Folklore connects citrine with prosperity, success and an upbeat frame of mind, mostly because of its colour. Those are traditions, not guarantees. Men tend to choose it for a new venture or a good year, or simply because they want something warmer than black and silver.

Are your citrine pieces real citrine?

No. The yellow in our pieces comes from citrine-coloured stones, not natural citrine, mounted in silver or 18ct gold and finished to resist scratches. That keeps the colour even from stone to stone and the price sensible.

Is most citrine really heated amethyst?

Much of it, yes. Natural citrine is uncommon and usually pale, so a large share of the deep golden citrine on the market is amethyst or smoky quartz that has been heated until it turns yellow or orange. It's still quartz, and it's a long-accepted practice, but it should be disclosed.

Is citrine the November birthstone?

Yes. November has two birthstones, citrine and topaz, and citrine is the more affordable of the pair.

What's the difference between citrine and topaz?

They can look alike, but they're different minerals. Citrine is quartz; topaz is a separate mineral that's harder and denser. For years citrine was sold under names like gold topaz, which is why the two are still confused.

What is ametrine?

Ametrine is a single crystal that is part amethyst and part citrine, purple at one end and yellow at the other. Almost all of it comes from one region of Bolivia.

Can men wear yellow gemstones?

Yes, as long as the yellow is the only bright colour you're wearing. One citrine necklace against black, white, navy or denim looks deliberate. Set it beside other strong colours and it starts to compete.

Does citrine look better in gold or silver?

It depends on the look you want. Gold blends with citrine and makes the whole piece glow; silver frames it and makes the yellow look cleaner and brighter. Gold is the safer start, silver the more modern one.

A Little Sunshine

You don't need to dress in yellow to wear it. One citrine necklace against the colours you already live in is enough to change the whole look, and it's a lot easier than you'd think.

Take a closer look at the Melted Citrine and Yellow Gemstone Clover necklaces, or see every colour in our gemstone range.