News and Events

november News

Watch our monthly news video to learn about our latest arrivals, events, and promotions at Leonard Jewelry!

Birthstone of the Month

For those born in the month of November, your birthstones are the gemstones of Topaz and Citrine. Similar in color and origin, they are unique and different gemstones. Topaz has a history of being misidentified because its color can be similar to other gems, including Citrine and "smoky quartz". It comes in a wide range of colors such as brown, blue, green, yellow, or pink. The most prized and valuable is the Imperial Topaz, which is a medium reddish orange to an orange red. Found in the Ural Mountains in Russia, it was considered to be the royal family jewel of the Czar of Russia. The name "Topazios" is an old Greek name for the small island from the Red Sea. Topaz is found in Brazil, Sri Lanka, Africa, and China. It is believed to give strength, break spells, improve eyesight, control anger, and restore energy. The Topaz gemstone is most often available cut in the oval or pear shape. It is a delicate gemstone that should be worn with care, in a mounting with protection, and should be kept apart from other gemstones and jewelry to avoid scratching or breakage. It is also the suggested gemstone for the 23rd wedding anniversary.

The alternative gemstone to Topaz is Citrine that offers a more durable, affordable, and availability of options in both shapes and sizes. Coming from the French word for lemon, "citron," it is a sunny gemstone that comes in colors from pale yellow, gold, to brownish orange. The finest colors are saturated yellow to reddish orange, but with few tints of brown. It is found in large sizes, and is easily adaptable to unusual cuts and gemstone carvings. The main sources of origin for Citrine are Brazil and Zambia.