November Birthstones

November has two stones on both lists: topaz, a hard gem found in many colours, and citrine, yellow to orange quartz.

The two lists for November

• Modern list (American Gem Society): Topaz, Citrine

• Traditional list (United Kingdom, National Association of Goldsmiths, 1937): Topaz, Citrine

There is no single official birthstone list, so you are free to choose whichever you prefer. You can check any month with our birthstone finder.

About the stones

Topaz

Topaz is an aluminium fluorosilicate with a hardness of 8, and it has a perfect cleavage, so it can split if knocked. It is best known in yellow to brown, and also appears in blue, pink and colourless forms. Much of the blue topaz sold today is colourless topaz that has been irradiated and heated. The origin of the name is debated and is sometimes linked to an island in the Red Sea.

Citrine

Citrine is yellow to orange quartz, and much of what is sold is heated amethyst. See our citrine guide.

How the idea developed

Topaz and citrine are a classic case of confusion: for centuries yellow quartz and yellow topaz were sold under the same names, and lists sometimes treat them together. November’s two-stone list on both the American and the British side reflects that long overlap.

For the wider history of the idea, see our birthstones overview. The modern list follows the American Gem Society, and the traditional list follows the 1937 United Kingdom list, both summarised in Wikipedia, Birthstone.

A different system

Vedic gemstone (ratna) guidance is a different system from birthstones. It is tied to the nine planets and to a birth chart, not to the calendar month, and it belongs to the Vedic tradition, which is covered on our sister site, Nidarshana Vedh. Nothing on this page is Vedic advice.

A note on health. Crystals are valued for beauty, meaning and ritual. There is no scientific evidence that they treat health conditions. If you are struggling with your health or mood, please speak to a doctor.

Frequently asked questions