November is upon us. The Gemstone Spotlight is on the birthstones associated with November and with Scorpio (till November 22) and Sagittarius (till end of the month).

Citrine is a quartz crystal that is pale yellow to orange in color. It is a fairly durable stone, it rates 7 on the Mohs Hardness Scale (a scale that rates the hardness of stones from 1, soft like talc to 10 hard like a diamond) Here is a visual aid about the Mohs Scale. The durability and availability make it a nice and affordable choice for jewelry. Citrine is the commonly accepted gemstone associated with the Month of November. I have a growing selection of Citrine earrings and bracelets in the store. Citrine is associated with the Solar Plexus Chakra, as are the other two gemstones, Topaz and Tigers Eye that are also accepted as alternate birthstones for November in general and Scorpio in particular.

Topaz is usually pictured as a vibrant yellow colored gem, however, in its most natural state it is colorless. It is the presence of element/mineral “impurities” that make it different colors. Topaz can be pale blue or any shade of yellow to orange. They are beautiful and very expensive. Topaz is an 8 on the Mohs Scale.

Tigers Eye is a personal favorite of mine. I love the warm golden-brown hues of this stone. There is also Blue Tigers Eye and a range of red, cream, and black. Both Tigers Eye and Topaz are also associated with the Solar Plexus Chakra. Tigers Eye has a hardness rating of 6.5 to 7.