Citrine: What's in a Name?

by Angela Magnotti Andrews Citrine jewelry has a warmth reminiscent of sunshine and has long been considered a stone of the sun. However, it's name does not necessarily reflect this connection.

'Citron'--A Lemon?

According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), citrine derives its name from the French word citron, which means "lemon." Natural untreated citrine is often a pale yellowish color. However, it rarely matches a true lemon yellow, leaning more toward a light honey or smoky gold. These naturally-colored citrine specimens are becoming rarer. Today, much of the new citrine on the market is heat treated right at the mines {2}. This has become a widely acceptable practice, which often results in a yellow with reddish undertones. According to GemSelect, the effects of this heat treatment are considered permanent and stable.

Madeira Citrine

While citrines are rarely lemon yellow, there is one special citrine whose name perfectly captures its essence and hue--Madeira citrine. On the islands of Medeira, Portugal, near the Canary Islands, a unique practice of winemaking has been perfected for well over 500 years. The wines in Madeira are made after the fashion of a long boat ride. One forsaken shipment of wine made the full journey through the trade routes and back to its port of origin in Madeira. Upon its discovery in the ship, winemakers realized that exposure to heat on the constantly moving ship completely changed the flavor of the wine.   Once these artisans discovered the reason for the wine's transformation, they engineered a way to simulate the process on land. Today, the simplest method is to fill a large stainless steel container with the wine. A system of pipes that pass through the container will circulate hot water (120 degrees Fahrenheit) through the wine for three months {4}. In another method, casks of wine are taken to a rooftop and left beneath the beating rays of the sun for several months. This method, called the Canteiro method, is reported to produce the best Madeira wines {4}. The birth of this new wine put the region on the map, and the Madeira wines, known the world over for their "profound complexity, crisp acidity and marvelous richness on the palate" {5}, also happen to be a rich, smoky red-hued brown in color, just like the citrine that is believed to be named after them.

Brazilian Wood?

While this connection to Madeira wines seems to be the most commonly held theory of the origins of the stone's name, some believe Madeira citrine is actually named after a Brazilian word meaning 'wood' or 'wood-colored'. This makes some sense, since most of the world's most beautiful citrines come from Brazil's southern tip. However, it is not the most romantic of theories. Wherever it derives its name, don't you think the Madeira citrine is stunning?

Notes

1. "Citrine: November's Sunny Birthstone," GIA 4Cs Blog, November 1, 2013. http://4csblog.gia.edu/2013/citrine-novembers-sunny-birthstone.

2. GemSelect. "Citrine Gemstone Information." Accessed November 3, 2014. http://www.gemselect.com/gem-info/citrine/citrine-info.

3. International Colored Gemstone Association. "Citrine." Accessed November 3, 2014. http://www.gemstone.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=104:sapphire&catid=1:gem-by-gem&Itemid=14.

4. Madeira Wine Guide. "The Making of Madeira Wine." Accessed November 3, 2014. http://www.madeirawineguide.com/2006/05/the_making_of_madeira_wine.html.

5. The Rare Wine Co. "Historic Series Madeira." Accessed November 3, 2014. http://www.rarewineco.com/rare-wine-co-historic-series-madeira/.