Topaz is a hard mineral, highly valued for the color palette in which it can be found. With a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale, it is a hard gemstone (after diamonds and rubies), perfect for jewelry and ornaments.
Fashion of formation
Most topaz "grows" as crystals in the voids of igneous rocks. These crystals can have excellent clarity and are highly sought after for jewelry making.
Where does the name topaz come from?
The name "topaz" derives from the word "Topazios", the ancient Greek name of the island of St. John in the Red Sea. Several precious stones were found on this island, however, topaz was not among them. Explorers at the time confused peridot with topaz. That's how it got its name.
Topaz colors
Pure topaz is colorless, but the impurities present can give it a certain color. Natural topaz colors include yellow, orange, pink, red, purple and blue. The most accessible and most frequently bought is the blue topaz, which gets its color from irradiation. Natural blue topaz is extremely rare and usually has a pale blue hue. Almost all blue topaz offered in stores today is colorless topaz that has been irradiated to produce a blue color.
Imperial topaz
A variety of topaz known as "imperial topaz" is especially valuable because people enjoy its reddish-orange to orange-red colors, which often occur in the same crystal. It seems that the name "Imperial Topaz" originates from Russia. In the 18th and 19th centuries, this semi-precious stone could only be owned by the Tsar and his family. Hence the name. Most imperial topaz is mined in Brazil.
Mystic Topaz
Some topazes are coated with a metallic oxide that gives the stone a multicolored iridescent sheen. These stones, known as "mystic topaz", appear to change color if the observer moves the stone or changes the viewing angle.
Where is it found?
Brazil has been the world's most important source of topaz for decades. Almost all of the world's top quality imperial topaz has been mined from southeastern Brazil. The Ouro Preto and Capao mines were the most important sources of yellow, orange, pink, red and purple topaz. Brazil is also the main producer of colorless topaz, much of which is irradiated to produce the colors Swiss blue and London blue.
Pakistan is a smaller source of pink, red and purple topaz. Sri Lanka is a very important source of colorless topaz. Other sources of topaz include: Australia, India, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Russia and Zimbabwe.
Topaz - the stone of those born in November
The popularity of topaz is also due to the fact that it is considered the stone of the month of November. That is, a beneficial stone to be worn by those of the Scorpio sign.
Beliefs about topaz
According to the ancient Egyptians, yellow topaz was colored by the rays of the Sun, and the Greeks believed that wearing this stone made them invincible and could even make them invisible.
Famous topazes
1. "El-Dorado Topaz" is the largest faceted topaz in the world, weighing 31,000 carats, which is 6.2 kg. This topaz originates from Brazil's mineral-rich southeastern state of Minas Gerais, the world's main source of enormous topaz crystals.
2. The "Lua de Maraba" topaz , which in Portuguese means "Maraba's Moon", is the second largest faceted topaz in the world. The topaz with dimensions of 18 x 15 x 10 cm is of Brazilian origin, weighs 25,250 carats and has a very rare gray color. Perhaps the only stone of this color and size.
3. American gold topaz . This is the third largest faceted gemstone in the world, weighing 22,892.5 carats (4.5785 kg), with a cushion cut, having 172 facets. The Brazilian gemstone is on display in the Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History.
4. Braganza topaz . One of the most famous topaz stones is actually colorless and was originally thought to be a diamond. This stone weighs 1680 carats.
5. Topaz Amarelo is a yellow topaz of Brazilian origin. The faceted gemstone weighs 9,600 carats and is perhaps the largest pear-shaped topaz in the world.
6. The Golden Topaz Sphere is a faceted golden topaz weighing 12,555 carats. The color, cut and clarity of the gemstone are exceptional.
7. The Azul Topaz , of Brazilian origin, is an enormous 8225 carat cushion-cut topaz with good clarity and initially colorless. "Topaz Azul" is probably the largest irradiated blue topaz in the world.
Topaz features and value
The value of a topaz is given by its characteristics, such as color, clarity, carat and cut.
Color : The color of a topaz plays an essential role in determining its price. Although blue is one of the most common colors in which this gemstone is available, red is the most expensive and rare variant.
Clarity : This refers to transparency and how light passes through the stone. Therefore, the clearer the topaz, the more valuable it will be. Apart from fractures, inclusions can also influence the price.
Carats : Topaz is available in a wide range of sizes. Prices increase exponentially for a stone heavier than 5 carats.
Cut : Topaz is usually found in elongated shapes. Therefore, it is often cut in a pear or oval shape.
Topaz care
As with any other gemstone jewelry, topaz should be cleaned regularly and worn with care. Here are some tips:
· To prevent the formation of a layer of dirt, wear topaz jewelry after applying makeup, lotion and perfume.
· Do not use chemicals to clean topaz stone.
· When you clean your jewelry, don't forget to clean the underside as well. A lot of dirt can collect there.
· Be careful not to hit the topaz stone. For this reason, we recommend that you do not wear a topaz ring or topaz bracelets on your dominant hand.
· Store topaz jewelry carefully. Ornaments featuring this stone should not be exposed to extreme temperatures, as this could affect the coloring of the stone.
Where do you buy topaz jewelry?
Always buy jewelry from authorized sources. Do your research before purchasing any gemstone jewelry. Valmand is a reliable store where you can purchase topaz jewelry, after browsing the impressive collection of topaz engagement rings, topaz gift rings, wedding rings, topaz earrings, pendants or necklaces with the same stone.
Choose the quality offered by Valmand !
