Does Citrine Fade In Sunlight?

Citrine is a transparent mineral, a variety of quartz, which takes its name from its color. It is a stone with a bright yellowish-orange hue, similar to the color of citrus fruit. This yellow gem has gained its name in 1747. This semi-precious stone has, however, been known since the Middle Ages. Citrine was used to decorate the crowns of rulers as well as costly jewelry.

This stone has a hardness of 7 out of 10 on the Mohs scale. It means that the stone is quite hard and durable.

Citrine comes in many colors, but all shades of Citrine vary within a yellow color range. It may be pale yellow, bright lemon, honey, or orange. The coloring of the mineral depends on the traces that make up each particular stone.

It is worth mentioning that citrine is quite rare compared to other types of quartz. It is mined in Brazil, the United States, Spain, France, and Madagascar. 

NATURAL CITRINE AND TREATED STONES

Natural citrine is a mineral with a yellow color (or shades of yellow) that has been naturally acquired.

Imitations of citrine exist, obtained in the laboratory by burning or irradiating calcite stones. This procedure gives the stones a yellow color.

The most famous imitations are those made by irradiating amethyst, smoky quartz, morion, calcite, or rock crystal. All of these stones, even after being processed, are not natural citrines. After all, they did not naturally acquire their color.

CAN CITRINE FADE?

Unfortunately, natural citrine is prone to tarnishing when exposed to sunlight. After such exposure, the citrine becomes faded. The citrine will change into clear quartz. Although the stone will retain its characteristics, it will lose its external features characteristic of citrine.

Citrine will burn out within four hours, so it is not advisable to sunbathe with this stone or leave it in places where it may be exposed to the sun's rays. It is worth mentioning that over time, stones lose their color slightly. This is a natural process. 

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RULES OF CITRINE CARE

Store in a dark place
It is not advisable to store the citrine outside of its box. The box must be protected from light so that you can be sure that the stone will not fade.

Store it separately from other stones
It is also important that the mineral not come in contact with other minerals because citrine can be scratched by another stone due to its higher hardness.

Proper cleaning
It is important to clean citrine properly. To do this, it is advisable to gently wipe the stone with soapy water without the addition of harsh chemicals. After cleaning, wipe and dry your stone well.

Keep away from steam
Steam can also heat your stone and cause it to turn colorless. Therefore, always take off your citrine jewelry when ironing clothes or going to the sauna.

The cautious attitude
We recommend always removing citrine jewelry when you are washing dishes, doing laundry, or doing other household chores. Strong cleaning detergents, such as bleach, can change the color of citrine. Hairsprays and perfumes can also affect the color of citrine for the worse.

Avoid temperature extremes
Do not expose citrine to sudden changes in temperature; such effects on the stone may damage it or cause it to split.

Citrine is an amazing stone with incredibly warm energy. You should treat citrine with care so that it does not lose its beautiful lemon color. 

Kindly note that healing gemstone meanings are not prescriptions or healthcare information.