Suzanne's Citrine

I’m going to be doing a post on a magnificent bit of citrine I’ve currently got joint custody of, but this is not that post. Instead, this is me thinking of citrine and realizing I’ve had a piece sitting in a box by my bed for years, waiting for the right home. It’s one of a pair I picked up at a little shop in downtown Seattle called Raven’s Nest Treasure.

It’s going to Suzanne, who is one of my favorite people in the entire universe, and who doesn’t (yet) have enough pretty rocks lying around. We had some lovely sunshine on Sunday, so I took photos of her new delight. I figured a few of you might enjoy them as well.

Citrine and sky

Isn’t it lovely?

I will confess something to you: I never much liked citrine. I’m not a fan of oranges and yellows. I always passed it by for things like rose and smoky quartz and amethyst. Because it’s orange. Like an orange. I quite like oranges, mind, but have never been a fan of their color.

Citrine against burgundy.

So I always passed right by citrine with nary a glance, until my friend Autumn came to visit. We went to the Burke Museum, and she bolted for the citrine. She adores it.

Citrine on the side, in the sun. Enlarge this and really see the play of color within.

Have you ever had one of those moments when someone makes you see a thing you’ve never liked entirely anew? This was that moment. I saw citrine through her eyes, and it blazed out with all the colors of the sun. It was spectacular, dazzling – still orange, but a brilliant and beautiful orange.

My whole perspective on citrine changed. Justlikethat.

Citrine from a different angle.

So when I was in the Raven’s Nest a bit later, and saw citrine crystals sitting in a dish, I chose out two quite carefully. I wrapped one and kept it in a box, waiting for Autumn. But we lost touch, and it’s not seen the light of day for too long. It’s time to give this one a home. I’ll find Autumn again someday, and I’ll give her its sister. Then I’ll pick up another piece, somewhere, someday, so that there are three bits of citrine connecting three women. Symbols matter. And these are two of my favorite women in the world, with personalities as brilliant and beautiful as the sun, who make me see things in a whole new light.

Love always,

Dana

{advertisement}
Suzanne's Citrine
{advertisement}

6 thoughts on “Suzanne's Citrine

  1. 2

    Not to rain on your parade, but from Wikipedia:

    Citrine is a variety of quartz whose color ranges from a pale yellow to brown. Natural citrines are rare; most commercial citrines are heat-treated amethyst. Citrine contains traces of Fe3+ and is rarely found naturally. The name is derived from Latin citrina which means “yellow”.

    That said, it is very pretty, and yours may in fact be the genuine article. See http://www.mindat.org/min-1054.html

  2. 3

    squeal! thanks dana — not a big fan of orange either but ohmystars that’s so pretty! it will look wonderful on the kitchen window ledge next to my other rock goodies, including that spectacular blue schist you gave me

  3. 5

    Love citrine; my favorite quartz (though ametrine is a close second). Back when I was playing with metalsmithing I liked setting citrines in silver over a copper background.

  4. 6

    Awesome, Dana, Suzanne! Personally, I love orange –have so many orange clothes…cardigan, blouses, t shirts, scarves, etc. so maybe my judgment is skewed…I think the piece is lovely. And it’s awesome that you gave it to Suzanne!

Comments are closed.