Citrine and Amethyst are types of quartz and have the same structure and a very similar energetic fingerprint. The vibrations are from the crystal itself and also the colour rays. You also get the energy from the ways they have been loved and used by many civilisations, ancient and modern.
Natural citrine is quite rare, but this beautiful, yellow, translucent stone can also be created by heat-treating, Amethyst (and sometimes smoky quartz).
Does it matter? Some people say so but in my opinion it doesn’t, especially if you know what you are getting. The metaphysical properties of heat-treated amethyst that has turned yellow are said to be the same as citrine. I have worked with both types of citrine and I would agree.
Both of these lovely crystals are created by mother earth using heat and gamma rays. To make amethyst into “citrine” all we are doing is adding more heat. This has been done for thousands of years and it doesn’t actually take that much.
Are they fakes? No. In the same way that some household goods and foods come to be known by their commercial name, heat-treated amethysts that turn citrine-coloured are called citrine because that is the job they do. Natural citrine is livelier, a bit stronger energetically, but mostly what you see is what you get.
How can we tell the difference? Sometimes it’s tricky but a simple rule of thumb is that natural citrine is very clear and only or mostly lemon with very little white. There may also be a price premium. You may also see citrine listed as “natural citrine” to highlight the difference and the rarity will attract a higher price,. However, take care as not all sellers even know there is a difference. Just because it says “natural” citrine doesn’t mean it is. But is it citrine? To me, yes it is.
