ORIGIN: Coastal Devonian Lava Beds, Angus, Scotland.

CLASSIFICATION: Citrus Yellow Faceted Pear Cut Citrine Semi-Precious Gemstone.

SIZE: Length: 21mm. Width: 14mm. Depth: 10mm. All measurements approximate.

WEIGHT: 15.46 carats.

NOTE: Default chain is silver electroplate 16, 18, 20 or 24 inch (provided free). Sterling silver chains are also available in lengths from 16 to 24 inches. 

DETAIL: The first mention of citrine in the ancient sources comes from the fourth century B.C. Greeks. The Greeks and Romans used citrine for intaglios and in jewelry as well during the first and second centuries. Since trade in the first centuries AD was brisk between the Romans and India, it's very likely that the Romans got their stones from southern India, an area not only rich in gems but also a major bead lapidary center. The gemstones would reach Rome and Greece either via the Silk Route (if overland) or if by sea, they would have crossed the Arabian and Red Sea by ship, then overland to Alexandria in Egypt, before being distributed by trade across and around the Mediterranean. Both the ancient Greeks as well as the ancient Romans regarded Citrine as sacred to the healing deities Apollo and Aesclepius, and believed that citrine was the crystallized essence of sunshine. Citrine was believed to aid in digestion and cleanse toxins from the body, and it was even carried as protection against snake venom.

Celebrating mankind's historical and cultural inheritance here’s a very large, very clean, antique bright lemon yellow faceted citrine from the Devonian lava beds found along the coast of Angus Country, Scotland. The cut is very similar to an old-fashioned "briolette", or a "rose cut", and is also similar to a more contemporary cut known to some as a "checkerboard". Very popular in 18th and 19th century Victorian Scotland, citrine has remained a very popular gemstone through the 20th century. This particular specimen was handcrafted in mid-twentieth century Siberia into this sparkling faceted pear (also known within the trade as a "teardrop"). This is a very fine, richly colored bright lemon yellow semi-precious gemstone. As you can see, this is an exceptionally good quality gemstone. Certainly to the eye it is nothing less than perfect, it is truly a beautiful, sumptuous, and regal-sized semi-precious gemstone.

The setting is of contemporary origin. This is a high-quality solid sterling silver pendant setting made right here in the USA, crafted to last a lifetime. It is not cheap, imported silver electroplated nickel costume jewelry such as that flooding the USA and European market places from Asia (and oftentimes fraudulently described as "sterling silver"). This is an heirloom quality setting designed to last a lifetime.  It is a first-class piece of jewelry throughout. The default chain is silver electroplated 24 inch. However we do have solid sterling silver chains available in lengths between 16 and 24 inches available upon request. 

Under magnification the gemstone shows the unmistakable characteristics of having been hand crafted. The coarseness of the handcrafted finish is considered appealing to most gemstone collectors, and is not considered a detriment, or to detract from the value of a gemstone. These characteristics are not only expected of hand-finished gemstones, most serious collectors consider such gemstones more desirable, possessed of greater character and uniqueness when compared to today's cookie-cutter mass-produced machine-faceted gemstones. Unlike today’s computer controlled machine produced gemstones that approach flawlessness in a perfect finish, the cut and finish of a handcrafted gemstone such as this is the cultural legacy passed onwards by artisans who lived centuries ago. This gemstone has great luster and sparkle, and to the eye is completely transparent, but one cannot say with absolute certainty that it is absolutely flawless. True, any blemishes it possesses are not visible to the naked eye, and even at 600% as in these photo enlargements here there are no discernible flaws.

However we hesitate to use the word “flawless”, as sooner or later blemishes will show up at higher levels of magnification with almost every natural gemstone. An absolutely flawless gemstone is very rare in nature (and usually turns out to be synthetic). However the gemstone can be characterized at a minimum, to use trade jargon, as "eye clean". To the eye it is indeed without blemish. However close examination with a jeweler’s loupe will however reveal occasional blemishes within the gemstone (as is the case with most any natural gemstone), as well as slight irregularities in the faceting and finish. Naturally these characteristics are expected of hand-finished, natural gemstones. However for most, the unique nature and character of hand-crafted gemstones such as this more than makes up for the slight blemishes and irregular finishes which by and large, are only noticed under high magnification.

HISTORY OF CITRINE: Citrine, like Amethyst, is part of the quartz family. Citrine is the rarest of the quartz gemstones, and is colored by trace amounts of iron. Citrine takes its name from the Latin "citrus" for citrus tree. The first description of citrine in the ancient sources comes from the fourth century B.C. Greeks. The Greeks and Romans used citrine for intaglios (signet rings) and in jewelry as cabochon (polished) gemstones during the first and second centuries A.D. Since trade in the first few centuries A.D. was brisk between the Romans and India, it's very likely that the Romans got their stones from southern India, an area not only rich in gems but also a major bead making and lapidary center.

The gemstones would reached Rome either via the Silk Route (if overland) or if by sea, they would have crossed the Arabian and Red Sea by ship, then overland to Alexandria in Egypt, before being distributed by trade across and around the Mediterranean. Citrine was also worn in the classical world as a protective talisman and used for medicinal purposes. The Romans and Greeks believed it to be the crystallized essence of sunshine, and believed it would aid in digestion and cleanse toxins from the body. Citrine was carried as protection against snake venom, and was believed to be sacred to the healing deities Apollo and Aesclepius.

Many biblical scholars believe that citrine was the tenth of the twelve gemstone varieties described in the Bible as adorning the breastplate (hoshen) of the high priests of Yahweh. In ancient India citrine was used to protect children from evil spirits, and as an aid finding a suitable match for marriage. In the Middle Ages citrine was associated with wealth and prosperity (perhaps because of its gold color) and was often referred to as the “Merchant Stone”. Many shopkeepers kept this gem as a talisman believing that it would enhance their business fortune. It was believed that if one kept a piece of citrine in a drawer, one's wealth would accumulate.

As a talisman, it was also believed in the Middle Ages to be useful in eliminating sleep disorders such as insomnia, bad dreams and nightmares. Medieval Arab scholars and scientists believed that citrine was one of the components of gold. Citrine was also very popular during the Middle Ages with the Celts and Scots. Citrine served as a protective talisman against the plague, bad skin and evil thoughts. Citrine was also employed as a charm against the poisonous bite of Scotland's one venomous snake, the vipera berus, an adder found in the Scottish Highlands. The use of Citrine as a talisman to protect against the plague was also common to all of Medieval Europe.

Beginning in the seventeenth century, craftsmen of Scottish weapons began to incorporate citrine or smoky quartz from the Cairngorm Mountains into shoulder brooches, kilt pins and dirk pommels. Both gemstones were oftentimes set into the pommel of the Scottish dirk, or “black dagger” (“sgian dubh”), a long dagger with a straight blade that is a prerequisite of Highland costume. Citrine enjoyed a surge of popularity in the late Victorian era and was often set with other semiprecious stones such as bloodstones, carnelian and garnets.

During the Art Deco period between World Wars I and II, large citrines were set in many prized pieces, including the massive and elaborate Art Deco inspired jewelry pieces made for big Hollywood stars such as Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford. Most citrine today comes from mines in Brazil, but it is actually treated amethyst, converted to citrine by the application of high heat. Natural citrine is actually fairly rare, and typically comes from deposits in Scotland, France, Madagascar, and the Ural Mountains in Russia.

Throughout the history of the ancient world, gemstones were believed capable of curing illness and providing protection. Found in Egypt dated 1500 B. C., the "Papyrus Ebers" offered one of most complete therapeutic manuscripts containing prescriptions using gemstones and minerals. Gemstones were not only valued for their medicinal and protective properties, but also for educational and spiritual enhancement. In these as well as other ancient cultures, it was believed that citrine would ward off evil thoughts, dispel nightmares, and would bring out lightheartedness and joy of spirit.

There were many medicinal applications for citrine. It was believed that soaking a citrine in pure water rendered an elixir which would release toxins from the body. This elixir was also believed helpful for women and their menstrual problems, and for relieving menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, by balancing the hormones and alleviating fatigue. It was also very popular with women as wearing the gemstone was believed to be helpful in eliminating cellulite. Citrine was also believed useful in the treatment of urinary, bladder, kidney, liver and digestive diseases, and was also used to treat imbalances in the thyroid gland. Citrine was also believed to be a tonic for the circulatory system, helping cleanse the blood and useful in treating high blood pressure and diabetes.

It was also believed to enhance the passage of electrical impulses within the nervous system and improve the functionality of the endocrine system. Citrine was also believed effective in reversing degenerative diseases, and was believed useful in treating gangrene. It was used to stimulate the digestive system, the spleen, and the pancreas. It was also used to help treat eye problems, to increases blood circulation, and to activate the thymus. It was also used to treat lethargy and obesity. On the metaphysical plane, citrine was believed to be a powerful cleanser and regenerator helpful in the areas of self-healing, inspiration and self-improvement.

Carrying the power of the sun, it was also considered to aid in overcoming depression, irrational mood swings, low self-esteem, self-destructive behavior, fears and phobias. Citrine was also believed to heighten sensuality and sexuality. One’s sense of self, it was believed, became more radiant with a citrine and was believed to assist one in optimistically looking forward to the future rather than hanging on to the past. Mentally it was believed to awaken the higher mind, expand conscious awareness and improve clarity of thought, and to promote inner calm so that wisdom could emerge.

It was also believed to stimulate intellect and mental activity, improve memory, overcome difficulty verbalizing thoughts and feelings, and helping to find solutions to problems. Citrine was also believed to encourage the acceptance of constructive criticism. Holding a citrine was believed to assist one in remaining calm in the most challenging of situations. Along this vein, citrine was believed effective in drawing off stress and negativity, and conducive to bringing a quiet, refreshing peace. It was believed to stop anger and destructive tendencies, and to impart flexibility and openness to new experiences.

HISTORY OF SILVER: After gold, silver is the metal most widely used in jewelry and the most malleable. The oldest silver artifacts found by archaeologists date from ancient Sumeria about 4,000 B.C. At many points in the ancient world, it was actually more costly than gold, particularly in ancient Egypt. Silver is found in native form (i.e., in nuggets), as an alloy with gold (electrum), and in ores containing sulfur, arsenic, antimony or chlorine. Much of the silver originally found in the ancient world was actually a natural alloy of gold and silver (in nugget form) known as “electrum”.

The first large-scale silver mines were in Anatolia (ancient Turkey) and Armenia, where as early as 4,000 B.C. silver was extracted from lead ores by means of a complicated process known as “smelting”. Even then the process was not perfect, as ancient silver does contain trace elements, typically lead, gold, bismuth and other metals, and as much as a third of the silver was left behind in the slag. However measuring the concentrations of the “impurities” in ancient silver can help the forensic jewelry historian in determining the authenticity of classical items. From Turkey and Armenia silver refining technology spread to the rest of Asia Minor and Europe.

By about 2,500 B.C. the Babylonians were one of the major refiners of silver. Silver “treasures” recovered by archaeologists from the second and third millenniums demonstrate the high value the ancient Mediterranean and Near East placed upon silver. Some of the richest burials in history uncovered by archaeologists have been from this time frame, that of Queen Puabi of Ur, Sumeria (26th century B.C.); Tutankhamun (14th century B.C.), and the rich Trojan (25th century B.C.) and Mycenaean (18th century B.C.) treasures uncovered by Heinrich Schliemann.

The ancient Egyptians believed that the skin of their gods was composed of gold, and their bones were thought to be of silver. When silver was introduced into Egypt, it probably was more valuable than gold (silver was rarer and more valuable than gold in many Mesoamerican cultures as well). In surviving inventories of valuables, items of silver were listed above those of gold during the Old Kingdom. Jewelry made of silver was almost always thinner than gold pieces, as indicated by the bracelets of the 4th Dynasty (about 2,500 B.C.) Queen Hetephere I, in marked contrast to the extravagance of her heavy gold jewelry.

A silver treasure excavated by archaeologists and attributable to the reign of Amenemhat II who ruled during the 12th Dynasty (about 1900 B.C.), contained fine silver items which were actually produced in Crete, by the ancient Minoans. When the price of silver finally did fall due to more readily available supplies, for at least another thousand years (through at least the 19th dynasty, about 1,200 B.C.) the price of silver seems to have been fixed at half that of gold. Several royal mummies attributable to about 1,000 B.C. were even entombed in solid silver coffins.

Around 1,000 B.C. Greek Athenians began producing silver from the Laurium mines, and would supply much of the ancient Mediterranean world with its silver for almost 1,000 years. This ancient source was eventually supplemented around 800 B.C. (and then eventually supplanted) by the massive silver mines found in Spain by the Phoenicians and their colony (and ultimate successors) the Carthaginians (operated in part by Hannibal’s family). With the defeat of Carthage by Rome, the Romans gained control of these vast deposits, and mined massive amounts of silver from Spain, stripping entire forests regions for timber to fuel smelting operations. In fact, it was not until the Middle Ages that Spain’s silver mines (and her forests) were finally exhausted.

Although known during the Copper Age, silver made only rare appearances in jewelry before the classical age. Despite its infrequent use as jewelry however, silver was widely used as coinage due to its softness, brilliant color, and resistance to oxidation. Silver alloyed with gold in the form of “electrum” was coined to produce money around 700 B.C. by the Lydians of present-day Turkey. Having access to silver deposits and being able to mine them played a big role in the classical world. Actual silver coins were first produced in Lydia about 610 B.C., and subsequently in Athens in about 580 B.C.

Many historians have argued that it was the possession and exploitation of the Laurium mines by the Athenians that allowed them to become the most powerful city state in Greece. The Athenians were well aware of the significance of the mining operations to the prosperity of their city, as every citizen had shares in the mines. Enough silver was mined and refined at Laurium to finance the expansion of Athens as a trading and naval power. One estimate is that Laurium produced 160 million ounces of silver, worth six billion dollars today (when silver is by comparison relatively cheap and abundant). As the production of silver from the Laurium mines ultimately diminished, Greek silver production shifted to mines in Macedonia.

Silver coinage played a significant role in the ancient world. Macedonia’s coinage during the reign of Philip II (359-336 B.C.) circulated widely throughout the Hellenic world. His famous son, Alexander the Great (336-323 B.C.), spread the concept of coinage throughout the lands he conquered. For both Philip II and Alexander silver coins became an essential way of paying their armies and meeting other military expenses. They also used coins to make a realistic portrait of the ruler of the country. The Romans also used silver coins to pay their legions. These coins were used for most daily transactions by administrators and traders throughout the empire.

Roman silver coins also served as an important means of political propaganda, extolling the virtues of Rome and her emperors, and continued in the Greek tradition of realistic portraiture. As well, many public works and architectural achievements were also depicted (among them the Coliseum, the Circus Maximus). In addition many important political events were recorded on the coinage. Roman coins depicted the assassination of Julius Caesar, alliances between cities, between emperors, between armies, etc. And many contenders for the throne of Rome are known only through their coinage.

Silver was also widely used as ornamental work and in other metal wares. In ancient cultures, especially in Rome, silver was highly prized for the making of plate ware, household utensils, and ornamental work. The stability of Rome’s economy and currency depended primarily on the output of the silver mines in Spain which they had wrested from the Carthaginians. In fact many historians would say that it was the control of the wealth of these silver mines which enabled Rome to conquer most of the Mediterranean world. When in 55 B.C. the Romans invaded Britain they were quick to discover and exploit the lead-silver deposits there as well.

Only six years later they had established many mines and Britain became another major source of silver for the Roman Empire. It is estimated that by the second century A.D., 10,000 tons of Roman silver coins were in circulation within the empire. That’s about 3½ billion silver coins (at the height of the empire, there were over 400 mints throughout the empire producing coinage). That’s ten times the total amount of silver available to Medieval Europe and the Islamic world combined as of about 800 A.D. Silver later lost its position of dominance to gold, particularly in the chaos following the fall of Rome. Large-scale mining in Spain petered out, and when large-scale silver mining finally resumed four centuries after the fall of Rome, most of the mining activity was in Central Europe.

By the time of the European High Middle Ages, silver once again became the principal material used for metal artwork. Huge quantities of silver from the New World also encouraged eager buyers in Europe, and enabled the Spanish to become major players in the late Medieval and Renaissance periods. Unlike the ores in Europe which required laborious extraction and refining methods to result in pure silver, solid silver was frequently found as placer deposits in stream beds in Spain’s “New World” colonies, reportedly in some instances solid slabs weighing as much as 2,500 pounds. Prior to the discovery of massive silver deposits in the New World, silver had been valued during the Middle Ages at about 10%-15% of the value of gold.

In 15th century the price of silver is estimated to have been around $1200 per ounce, based on 2010 dollars. The discovery of massive silver deposits in the New World during the succeeding centuries has caused the price to diminish greatly, falling to only 1-2% of the value of gold. The art of silver work flourished in the Renaissance, finding expression in virtually every imaginable form. Silver was often plated with gold and other decorative materials. Although silver sheets had been used to overlay wood and other metals since ancient Greece, an 18th-century technique of fusing thin silver sheets to copper brought silver goods called Sheffield plate within the reach of most people.

At the same time the use of silver in jewelry making had also started gaining popularity in the 17th century. It was often as support in settings for diamonds and other transparent precious stones, in order to encourage the reflection of light. Silver continued to gain in popularity throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, and by the 20th century competed with gold as the principal metal used in the manufacture of jewelry. Silver has the highest thermal and electrical conductivity of any metal, and one of the highest optical reflectivity values. It has a brilliant metallic luster, is very ductile and malleable, only slightly harder than gold, and is easily worked and polished.

When used in jewelry, silver is commonly alloyed to include 7.5% copper, known as “sterling silver”, to increase the hardness and reduce the melting temperature. Silver jewelry may be plated with 99.9% pure ‘Fine Silver’ to increase the shine when polished. It may also be plated with rhodium to prevent tarnish. Virtually all gold, with the exception of 24 carat gold, includes silver. Most gold alloys are primarily composed of only gold and silver. Throughout the history of the ancient world, gemstones were believed capable of curing illness, possessed of valuable metaphysical properties, and to provide protection. Found in Egypt dated 1500 B. C., the "Papyrus Ebers" offered one of most complete therapeutic manuscripts containing prescriptions using gemstones and minerals.

Gemstones were not only valued for their medicinal and protective properties, but also for educational and spiritual enhancement. Precious minerals were likewise considered to have medicinal and “magical” properties in the ancient world. In its pure form silver is non toxic, and when mixed with other elements is used in a wide variety of medicines. Silver ions and silver compounds show a toxic effect on some bacteria, viruses, algae and fungi. Silver was widely used before the advent of antibiotics to prevent and treat infections, silver nitrate being the prevalent form. Silver Iodide was used in babies' eyes upon birth to prevent blinding as the result of bacterial contamination.

Silver is still widely used in topical gels and impregnated into bandages because of its wide-spectrum antimicrobial activity. The recorded use of silver to prevent infection dates to ancient Greece and Rome. Hippocrates, the ancient (5th century B.C.) Greek "father of medicine" wrote that silver had beneficial healing and anti-disease properties. The ancient Phoenicians stored water, wine, and vinegar in silver bottles to prevent spoiling. These uses were “rediscovered” in the Middle Ages, when silver was used for several purposes; such as to disinfect water and food during storage, and also for the treatment of burns and wounds as a wound dressing.

The ingestion of colloidal silver was also believed to help restore the body's “electromagnetic balance” to a state of equilibrium, and it was believed to detoxify the liver and spleen. In the 19th century sailors on long ocean voyages would put silver coins in barrels of water and wine to keep the liquid potable. Silver (and gold) foil is also used through the world as a food decoration. Traditional Indian dishes sometimes include the use of decorative silver foil, and in various cultures silver dragée (silver coated sugar balls) are used to decorate cakes, cookies, and other dessert items.

SHIPPING & RETURNS/REFUNDS: Your purchase will ordinarily be shipped within 48 hours of payment. We package as well as anyone in the business, with lots of protective padding and containers. All of our shipments are fully insured against loss, and our shipping rates include the cost of this coverage (through stamps.com, Shipsaver.com, the USPS, UPS, or Fed-Ex). Please be aware that postal rates are routinely hiked three times each year by the USPS, and have increased exponentially over the past decade. We set shipping rates as low as possible. However eBay charges steep commissions on shipping charges. And we have no control over the draconian rate increases the USPS levies multiple times every year (FOUR TIMES in the past 12 months as of April of 2026). International tracking is provided free by the USPS for almost all countries. Please note that with respect to international shipments, eBay/DHL shipping is typically less expensive than what the US Postal Service charges. But please be aware that DHL shipments generally offer very limited tracking, and inasmuch as shipments go to eBay first, then are consolidated before finally being transferred to DHL, they tend to be pretty slow.

ADDITIONAL PURCHASES do receive a VERY LARGE discount, typically about $5 per item so as to reward you for the economies of combined shipping/insurance costs. We do offer U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail, Registered Mail, and Express Mail for both international and domestic shipments, as well United Parcel Service (UPS) and Federal Express (Fed-Ex). Please ask for a rate quotation. Please note for international purchasers we will do everything we can to minimize your liability for VAT and/or duties. But we cannot assume any responsibility or liability for whatever taxes or duties may be levied on your purchase by the country of your residence. If you don’t like the tax and duty schemes your government imposes, please complain to them. We have no ability to influence or moderate your country’s tax/duty schemes.

If upon receipt of the item you are disappointed for any reason whatever, I offer a no questions asked 30-day return policy. Send it back, I will give you a complete refund of the purchase price; 1) less our original shipping/insurance costs, 2) less any non-refundable eBay fees. Please note that though they generally do, eBay may not always refund payment processing fees on returns beyond a 30-day purchase window. So except for shipping costs and any payment processing fees not refunded by eBay, we will refund all proceeds from the sale of a return item. Obviously we have no ability to influence, modify or waive eBay policies.

ABOUT US: Prior to our retirement we used to travel to Eastern Europe and Central Asia several times a year seeking antique gemstones and jewelry from the globe’s most prolific gemstone producing and cutting centers. Most of the items we offer came from acquisitions we made in Eastern Europe, India, and from the Levant (Eastern Mediterranean/Near East) during these years from various institutions and dealers. Much of what we generate on Etsy, Amazon and Ebay goes to support worthy institutions in Europe and Asia connected with Anthropology and Archaeology. Though we have a collection of ancient coins numbering in the tens of thousands, our primary interests are ancient/antique jewelry and gemstones, a reflection of our academic backgrounds.

Though perhaps difficult to find in the USA, in Eastern Europe and Central Asia antique gemstones are commonly dismounted from old, broken settings – the gold reused – the gemstones recut and reset. Before these gorgeous antique gemstones are recut, we try to acquire the best of them in their original, antique, hand-finished state – most of them originally crafted a century or more ago. We believe that the work created by these long-gone master artisans is worth protecting and preserving rather than destroying this heritage of antique gemstones by recutting the original work out of existence. That by preserving their work, in a sense, we are preserving their lives and the legacy they left for modern times. Far better to appreciate their craft than to destroy it with modern cutting.

Not everyone agrees – fully 95% or more of the antique gemstones which come into these marketplaces are recut, and the heritage of the past lost. But if you agree with us that the past is worth protecting, and that past lives and the produce of those lives still matters today, consider buying an antique, hand cut, natural gemstone rather than one of the mass-produced machine cut (often synthetic or “lab produced”) gemstones which dominate the market today. We can set most any antique gemstone you purchase from us in your choice of styles and metals ranging from rings to pendants to earrings and bracelets; in sterling silver, 14kt solid gold, and 14kt gold fill. When you purchase from us, you can count on quick shipping and careful, secure packaging. We would be happy to provide you with a certificate/guarantee of authenticity for any item you purchase from us. There is a $3 fee for mailing under separate cover. I will always respond to every inquiry whether via email or eBay message, so please feel free to write.