Fire Opal vs. Citrine: What’s the Difference?

Imagine two gorgeous jewelry pieces – one studded with fire opals and the other with citrines. If you had to choose just one, what would be your pick?

Confused? Then this comparative analysis will definitely help you make a decision.

Natural vs Lab Grown Gemstone

Keep reading to know more…

1. Definition

Fire Opal: Contrary to popular belief, the fire opal is not a mineral. It is an amorphous mineraloid that can be found in bright red, orange, and yellow hues depending on the amount of iron oxide present within its chemical structure.

Citrine: Citrine, on the other hand, is a member of the beryl mineral family. Based on the amount of ferric impurities in its chemical composition, this gemstone can be found in several shades ranging from bright yellow to deep reddish-orange.

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2. Symbolism

Fire Opal: Because of its vivacious, fiery shade, this gemstone is often associated with love, passion, fortune and power.

Citrine: Citrines have always been considered the symbol of peace, calm and mental clarity due to their vibrant and cheery hue.

3. Clarity

Fire Opal: Fire opals tend to be either transparent or translucent in nature. They are usually accompanied by inclusions, such as chips, fractures, and tiny pieces of sandstone trapped on the surface of the gem.

Citrine: Citrines, on the contrary, are greatly valued for being eye-clean, i.e., they typically do not have inclusions/flaws that can be seen with the naked eye. Citrines also showcase excellent transparency.

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4. Rarity

Fire Opal: Fire opals are undoubtedly one of the rarest variations of opal present today and are considered to be rarer than most commercial citrines.

Citrine: Naturally occurring citrines are exceptionally rare. Because of this, most of the gems currently sold in the market are actually amethysts and smoky quartz that have been artificially treated to transform them into citrines. That said, these stones have the same chemical composition as the citrine; therefore they are considered to be 100% authentic.

5. Location

Fire Opal: As of today, Mexico is the main source of fire opals. However, they can also be found in Australia, Peru, Honduras, Brazil, Ethiopia, and the western US.

Citrine: Majority of the natural citrines available today are sourced from Brazil, Russia, and France.

6. Durability

Fire Opal: With a rating of 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, fire opals are quite delicate and need to be handled with care.

Citrine: Citrines have a rating of 7 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, which means they are considerably durable.

7. Treatments

Fire Opal: Most fire opals usually undergo the sugar or smoke treatment in order to improve their color and enhance their durability.

Citrine: As touched upon before, almost all the commercially available citrines are heat treated in order to achieve the gem’s signature hue.

8. Popularity

Fire Opal: Owing to its spectacular hue, this jewel is one of the most sought-after variations of opal present today. That makes unique opal rings an irresistible gift for men and women alike.

Citrine: Blessed with eye-catching color and brilliance, the citrine is certainly one of the most desired semi-precious gemstones available today. It also happens to be one of the official birthstones of November, which has further increased its popularity.

As seen throughout this article, both the fire opal and citrine are absolutely spectacular in their own ways. We do hope that this comparative analysis has given you all the information you need to make the right choice.