Citrine has been used as gemstones and other ornamental objects for thousands
of years. In most early references it was often confused with topaz and called
topaz, topaz-quartz, Madeira Topaz, Spanish Topaz and Saxon Topaz, as well as by
many other names.
It was finally classified and named from the French name for lemon, "citron"
In ancient times, people have long treasured citrine as a gift from the sun, and
citrine was carried as a protection against snake venom and evil thoughts.
Citrine was particularly popular in the retro jewelry of the 1940s.