The History Behind a Topaz Gemstone

2) Topaz Rings Collection – Swiss Blue, Sky Blue, London Blue and Blush

The History Behind a Topaz

The first discovery of topaz was in Germany in 1737. Today you can find topaz gemstones in Brazil, China, Madagascar, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, the United States, Zimbabwe, and Mexico. The majority of topaz is found in Brazil.

How Is a Topaz Formed?

Before designing jewelry with a sparkling topaz, the gemstone goes through many processes. First, the stone has to develop into a form. The formation starts in the cavities of igneous rocks such as rhyolite and granite. The unique crystals develop during the late stages of magma cooling. When there is enough fluorine present, topaz formation occurs.

Each natural gemstone has a specific chemical composition that identifies it. The chemical composition of a topaz is Al₂SiO₄(F,OH)₂. Picture 1 above shows what a raw topaz stone looks like before it is cut, treated, or faceted.

What Is the Meaning of a Topaz?

Topaz is the traditional birthstone for the month of November. The stone is believed to dispel sadness and fear, ward off poisons, and help reverse infertility. The word “topaz” means “fire.” For centuries, many people in India believed that a topaz worn above the heart would assure a long life, beauty, and intelligence.

3) Precious Topaz

How Durable Is Topaz?

A precious topaz is defined as a topaz that is rich in yellow to medium peach-orange color. Topaz has great durability and is ideal for jewelry designs. A gemstone’s durability is based on a scale called the Mohs hardness scale , which measures the hardness of various minerals from 1 through 10—one being the softest and ten the hardest.

A topaz gem is an 8 on the Mohs hardness scale , which is considered to be very durable.

What Are the Color Options of a Topaz?

Golden brown to yellow are the natural colors of topaz. However, today the market offers topaz gems in an array of beautiful colors—colorless, gray, pale to medium blue, greenish, yellow, yellow-brown, orange, pale pink, deep pink, tan, beige, red, and “mystic” options. Pink is one of the rarest topaz colors, and the largest known one is an oval of 79 carats from Russia.

4) Sterling Silver Mystic Topaz® Ring

What Is Mystic Topaz®?

If you are looking for a kaleidoscope of colors, Mystic Topaz® is a beautiful choice. The mystic effect is created through a process called CVD—chemical vapor deposition. This process deposits a thin layer of titanium on the pavilion area of a clear topaz, resulting in a rainbow of colors. The gemstone is still real but enhanced by man.

The Mystic Topaz® gemstone is trademarked by Azotic® LLC and was first seen around 1998. It comes in a variety of shimmering color options—blue, bi-color, gray, multicolor, orange, pink, purple, and yellow. Picture 4 above shows a sterling silver topaz ring in a mystic green color.

Special Care for Topaz: Although topaz measures 8 on the Mohs hardness scale, hardness does not mean a gemstone is resistant to every type of damage. Topaz has natural planes of weakness, known as cleavage, which can make the stone more vulnerable to cracking or splitting under stress. Inclusions and internal fractures can also affect a gemstone’s resilience. For this reason, avoid cleaning topaz—including Mystic Topaz®—in ultrasonic or steam cleaners and protect it from excessive heat and sudden temperature changes. Learn more in my Gemstone Cleaning Guide, including which gemstones should never be placed in an ultrasonic cleaner.

What Are the Different Colors of Blue Topaz?

Blue topaz is one of the most popular colors. If you adore the color blue, there are several beautiful options: Sky Blue, Swiss Blue, and London Blue. Blue topaz was previously the rarest color. Today, blue topaz gems are created by taking a colorless topaz and treating it through an enhancing process, resulting in a permanent blue color.

Picture 2 above features the different blue shades and a beautiful blush color.

What Is a Topaz Stone?

Topaz is a natural mineral and popular jewelry gemstone known for its clarity, durability, and wide range of colors. Its chemical composition is Al₂SiO₄(F,OH)₂, and it forms in certain igneous rocks during the later stages of cooling. Although many people associate topaz with blue, natural topaz can occur in several colors, including colorless, yellow, golden brown, orange, pink, and reddish tones.

As a jewelry artist and designer, topaz is one of my personal favorite gemstones to work with because of its beautiful range of colors, excellent clarity, and durability. Its variety makes it especially versatile for rings, earrings, necklaces, and other jewelry designs.

Is Topaz a Precious Stone?

Topaz is generally classified as a semi-precious gemstone. The traditional term “precious gemstones” usually refers to diamond, ruby, sapphire, and emerald. However, certain varieties of topaz can be rare and highly desirable. The term “precious topaz” is also used within the gemstone trade for natural topaz displaying rich yellow, golden, orange, or peach tones.

Is Topaz Rare?

Topaz as a mineral is not considered exceptionally rare, but some natural colors are much less common than others. Colorless topaz is relatively abundant, while naturally occurring pink, red, and certain orange to reddish-orange stones are considerably rarer. The rarity, color, clarity, size, cut, origin, and whether a stone has been treated can all influence its desirability and value.

How Much Is Topaz Worth?

The value of a topaz gemstone can vary significantly. Rather than having one standard value, topaz is evaluated according to characteristics such as color, clarity, carat weight, cut, rarity, and whether the gemstone is natural or has undergone treatment. Some varieties are readily available and affordable, while rare natural colors and exceptional stones can command much higher values.

When evaluating topaz, color can be particularly important. Rich, attractive natural colors are generally more desirable than commonly available treated colors. As with most gemstones, a well-cut stone with excellent clarity and an appealing color will typically be more desirable than a comparable stone of lower quality.

What Is the Difference Between Natural and Treated Topaz?

Not every topaz color seen in jewelry occurs naturally in that appearance. Treatments are commonly used within the gemstone industry to create or enhance certain colors. Blue topaz, for example, is often produced by treating colorless or lightly colored natural topaz to create familiar shades such as Sky Blue, Swiss Blue, and London Blue.

Treatment does not mean the gemstone is fake. A treated natural topaz is still topaz, but its appearance has been enhanced. This is different from a synthetic or imitation stone. When purchasing gemstone jewelry, understanding whether a stone is natural, treated, synthetic, or an imitation can help you better understand what you are buying.

Is Topaz a November Birthstone?

Yes. Topaz is one of the traditional birthstones for November and is especially associated with warm yellow, golden, and orange colors. Today, topaz jewelry is available in such a broad range of colors that November birthdays are not limited to traditional golden shades. Blue topaz is also widely used in contemporary jewelry and is additionally associated with December.

10 Interesting Facts About Topaz

• Topaz is a natural mineral with the chemical composition Al₂SiO₄(F,OH)₂.
• Topaz measures 8 on the Mohs hardness scale.
• Topaz is a traditional November birthstone.
• Natural topaz occurs in several colors, including colorless, yellow, brown, orange, pink, and red tones.
• Colorless topaz is relatively abundant compared with rarer natural colors.
• Pink, red, and certain orange to reddish-orange topaz colors can be much rarer.
• Sky Blue, Swiss Blue, and London Blue are popular varieties of blue topaz.
• Much of the blue topaz used in jewelry begins as natural colorless or lightly colored topaz that is treated to produce its blue color.
• Mystic Topaz® receives its colorful appearance from a special surface treatment applied to natural topaz.
• Topaz is used in many types of jewelry because of its clarity, durability, range of colors, and availability in larger sizes.

Topaz Stone Frequently Asked Questions

What color is natural topaz?
Natural topaz can be colorless or occur in shades including yellow, golden brown, orange, pink, and red. Some natural colors are considerably rarer than others.

Is blue topaz natural?
Topaz itself is a natural gemstone, but much of the blue topaz available in jewelry has been treated to create or enhance its blue color. Sky Blue, Swiss Blue, and London Blue are among the best-known blue topaz shades.

Is topaz a durable gemstone?
Topaz measures 8 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it a relatively hard gemstone. Like all gemstone jewelry, however, it should still be protected from hard impacts and improper cleaning.

What is the rarest color of topaz?
Natural red and certain rich pink to reddish-orange topaz colors are among the rarest and most desirable varieties.

What month is topaz the birthstone for?
Topaz is a traditional birthstone for November. Blue topaz is also commonly associated with December.

Is treated topaz a real gemstone?
Yes. A natural topaz that has undergone a color-enhancement treatment is still a real topaz gemstone. Treatment should not be confused with synthetic or imitation stones.

How Do You Clean and Care for Topaz Jewelry?

• Wash your topaz jewelry with mild soap and water to maintain its beauty.
• Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners.
• Remove your jewelry when performing tasks that may cause physical damage.
• Keep jewelry away from harsh chemicals such as bleach, ammonia, and chlorine.
• Remove jewelry when applying lotions and other beauty products.
• Store jewelry in a dry place or in sealed bags.
• Remove jewelry when swimming, showering, or taking a bath.