Citrine is often called the “stone of abundance” — a warm, sunny crystal that radiates joy, confidence, and prosperity. But if you’ve ever shopped for citrine jewelry or clusters, you may have noticed that it doesn’t always look the same. Some citrine is deep honey-orange, while others are soft champagne-yellow.
So what’s the difference? Let’s clear things up.
Heat-Treated Citrine
Most of the citrine on the market today is actually amethyst or smoky quartz that’s been heat-treated to bring out those golden tones.
- Color: Rich amber, golden, or orangey-brown.
- Shapes: Beads, carvings, cabochons, and large cathedral-style clusters.
- Why: Amethyst and smoky quartz are abundant, and heating them creates a beautiful citrine color that’s affordable and widely available.
👉 Even though it’s heat-treated, this is still quartz — and it still carries the bright, uplifting energy people seek from citrine.
Natural Citrine
Natural citrine is much rarer. Its color is often lighter, softer, and sometimes smoky compared to the bold tones of heat-treated stones.
- Color: Straw-yellow, champagne-gold, or pale smoky golden.
- Shapes: Raw points, smaller clusters, some pale tumbles, and faceted gemstones used in jewelry.
- Value: Natural citrine is less common, so sellers highlight it as “natural/untreated citrine” and price it higher.
If you see citrine beads or carvings, it’s safe to assume they’re heat-treated unless a seller explicitly guarantees they’re natural.
Why Beads Are Almost Always Heat-Treated
Here’s the simple truth:
- Amethyst and smoky quartz are plentiful and affordable.
- Natural citrine is rare and valuable, especially in large pieces.
- It makes more sense for suppliers to preserve natural citrine crystals and clusters intact (where they hold more value) rather than cutting them down into beads.
- To meet demand for citrine jewelry, bead makers use heat-treated amethyst/smoky quartz instead.
This means your citrine bracelets are almost certainly heat-treated — and that’s completely normal across the crystal market.
Our Citrine Bracelets
We believe in being transparent, so here’s how we describe our bracelets:
-
Honey Citrine Bracelet (6mm)
A rich amber tone, full of warmth and vibrance. (Heat-treated quartz.) -
Pale Citrine Bracelet (8mm)
A soft champagne-yellow glow, gentle and uplifting. (Heat-treated quartz.)
Both carry the joyful, abundant energy citrine is loved for — just in different shades.
Final Thoughts
Whether natural or heat-treated, citrine is quartz infused with bright, sunny energy. What matters most is the connection you feel with it. If the warm golden glow of citrine speaks to you, let it support you in welcoming positivity, abundance, and confidence into your life.