History and belief
The name comes from the Latin citrus and the French citron, lemon. An old superstition says the stone brings prosperity, which is why it is called the merchant’s stone and the money stone.
Some keep a citrine in the till or in their wallet. In modern crystal tradition it is the stone of the sun, used for joy, self-confidence and drive.
What many people say
Many reach for citrine on days when they need a little extra courage, or when they start something new. Its warm colour is a reminder of sunshine in the middle of a dark Nordic winter.
What the stone really is
Citrine is quartz with a hardness of 7. Natural citrine is very rare. Most of what is sold as citrine is heat-treated amethyst. When amethyst is heated to between 200 and 300 °C, its violet colour disappears and the iron in the stone turns it yellow to orange.
Scientists do not fully agree on what gives natural citrine its colour. Clusters that are deep orange at the tips and white at the base are usually heated amethyst. That makes them no less beautiful, but it is good to know what you are buying.
Research has not found that crystals work beyond the placebo effect. Read about crystals and research