Topaz

It is a fluorine aluminum silicate and comes in yellow, yellow-brown, honey-yellow, flax, brown, green, blue, light blue, red and pink ... and sometimes it has no color at all. It is the topaz.

The topaz has been known for at least 2000 years and is one of the gemstones which form the foundations of the twelve gates to the Holy City of the New Jerusalem. These so-called apocalyptic stones are intended to serve in protection against enemies and as a symbol of beauty and splendor. It cannot be proved conclusively whether the name of the topaz comes from the Sanskrit or the Greek, though the Greek name 'topazos' means 'green gemstone'. Topaz is a gem that has a long history of being associated with the sun. This is because the colors of a sunrise or sunset are captured in this gem. Egyptians thought that wearing an amulet or pendant of topaz provided protection by the sun god Ra to the wearer. The Romans associated topaz with the sun god Jupiter, and felt that topaz was a powerful bringer of good fortune and positive events.

In mysticism, the topaz is attributed with a cooling, styptic and appetizing effect. It is said to dispel sadness, anger and nocturnal fears, to warn its wearer of poisons and protect him or her from sudden death Many cultures historically believed that wearing topaz allows you to be clear of vision and thought, and to be able to ward off evil spells or enchantments. Historically it was also believed to give the wearer almost super-human strengths and abilities when in emergency or crisis situations. . It is reputed to make men handsome and intelligent and sterile women fertile and happy. In ancient times many nobles wore topaz, as it was believe to change color when in the presence of poison. They often wore it in rings and placed their hands over their food or drink to see if it had been meddled with. Topaz was also thought to gain strength with the phases of the moon, and thought to cure some diseases and conditions such as insomnia, respiratory problems and some blood disorders. However, it is probably better not to rely too much on its magical powers, since it was also claimed that you could immerse your hand in boiling water after a topaz had been thrown into it and retract it again unharmed!  

Topaz is the birthstone of November (yellow topaz) and December (blue topaz), it is a talisman for the sign of Sagittarius and the suggested anniversary gemstone for the 4th, 19th or 23rd year of marriage. Because of the nature of its crystal structure, topaz has like one plane in which its bonds are relatively weak. Although topaz is a very hard gemstone, an 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, it can be split with a single blow and should be protected from hard knocks.

Today's gem market has given us many color choices for this beautiful gemstone. The stunning golden Imperial topaz and the delicate to deep pink and red topazes are the most highly prized.

 The most recognized color of topaz is an amber or gold color, with highlights of peach, tans, browns or shades of orange. A cognac color of topaz is slightly darker than the amber shade, and tends to have more of the brown highlights.

Pure topaz is colorless, but it also occurs in a broad range of colors: yellow, blue, pink, peach, gold, green, red, and brown.

The largest topaz is the Braganza topaz. This enormous and magnificent topaz from the Portuguese crown, the Braganza, was for a long time thought to be a diamond. It weighs 1680 ct.  This topaz, while called white topaz or silver topaz, is really colorless and is the most common type, found in China, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Nigeria and India.

Colorless topaz, also known as silver topaz, is the most plentiful variety in nature, but man has had his hand in the palette, using colorless topaz as the canvas. Modern technology has allowed us to reproduce in the laboratory several colors of topaz that do occur in nature, but in limited quantities--blue topaz and champagne topaz. In 1998, gemologists began surface-enhancing pale topaz to create a green topaz. This topaz ranges in color from a leaf green to an emerald green. Again, this is not a naturally occurring gem and requires surface-enhancement to produce the color.

They have also used this same technology to produce a strong pink topaz and the multicolor mystic topaz stones.

Mystic Topaz is white topaz enhanced with a US patented coating technology. A thin film is applied to the stone. This process is called physical vapor deposition; it uses various minerals. No harsh chemicals or radiation is used. This process produces a kaleidoscope of colors.

Mystic Topaz is also known as Fire Topaz, Mystic Fire Topaz, Caribbean topaz, Alaska topaz, Alaskan ice and Rainbow topaz. These are all different terms use to describe the same gemstone treated by titanium vapor for a permanent rainbow of colors.

Pink topaz occurs naturally in Pakistan and Russia, and is occasionally found in other locations. Pink topaz is usually pale pink; anything that is described as “hot pink” or “bright pink” is artificially treated or heated to produce the enhanced color. Heating some shades of pink topaz will remove the orange color and will leave a lavender colored gem. Some natural yellow stones are heated to become permanently pink.

Brown, red, dark pink, yellow, orange and sherry colored topaz are found naturally in Brazil and Sri Lanka. Heating and enhancing of these different naturally occurring colors can lead to a wide variety of darker shades and truly unique colors. Red and pink topaz gems were used in the jewelry of the 18th and 19th Century Russian Czarinas and is why topaz is sometimes called "Imperial Topaz".

Blue topaz, which has a pale to medium blue color is treated by irradiation and heat. While it may be safely assumed that all blue topaz is treated, naturally

 occurring blue topazes have been found in Texas, USA and the Ural Mountains of Russia. Colorless topaz which is enhanced to become blue is found in Brazil, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, and China. The blue topaz has become one of the most popular and widely used of all gemstones! Part of its popularity comes from it's affordability, especially when compared to the cost of other blue gems like the aquamarine and the sapphire. Another wonderful quality about the blue topaz is the impressive range of brilliant blues it comes in. The lightest blue topaz gems are often referred to as Sky blue topaz, the more pastel gemstones may be called Swiss blue topaz while the most intense, darkest gems are commonly named London blue topaz.

Champagne and Smokey Topaz
A word about Champagne or brown stones: Brown topaz is not a completely stable color and may fade if constantly exposed to sunlight or strong incandescent lighting.

Champagne topaz is also properly called smokey topaz, but we are hesitant to use the term since smokey quartz is misrepresented as smokey topaz more often than it is correctly represented--this causes confusion.

VARIETIES
On the gem market, topaz is usually classified by color. Below is a list of the color names designated for gem topaz:
Pink Topaz
Blue Topaz
Brown Topaz
Green Topaz

Other names may be designated to certain types of topaz:

Precious Topaz - used to distinguish topaz from cheaper fakes, such as citrine
Imperial Topaz - lustrous orange-yellow to orange-brown variety of topaz
Silver Topaz - colorless topaz
Sherry Topaz - orange-brown topaz
London Blue Topaz - deep blue topaz (the deepest blue form of topaz)
Swiss Blue Topaz - deep blue topaz (not as deep blue as London blue topaz)
Paraiba Topaz - sea-green topaz
Brazilian Aquamarine - False name given to aquamarine
Nerchinsk Aquamarine - False name given to aquamarine
Brazilian Ruby - False name given to pink topaz
Brazilian Sapphire - False name given to blue topaz (as well as blue tourmaline)

Hyacinth is an orange-yellow to yellow-brown variety of topaz. Although the name hyacinth usually is used to describe a gem variety of zircon of that color, it is also occasionally used for topaz (in old manuscripts).
Pyncite is occasionally used to describe a pale yellow topaz.

In the Empire style, the topaz was still widespread, but then the more reasonably priced citrine took over from it and even usurped its name - gold topaz. Since then, the topaz has been a rather exotic figure in the jewelry trade, and has been given the additional predicate 'pure' to make it clear that the topaz, not the quartz topaz, is meant. And it is still waiting for its well-deserved comeback to this day

FALSE NAMES
Citrine, a yellow to brown variety of quartz, closely resembles Topaz of that color. Unfortunately, unscrupulous dealers have adapted false name for Citrine so the unaware buyer thinks he is buying the more valuable Topaz. Any "Topaz" labeled with a prefix name (excluding those in the variety section of this page and the other names discussed below) is heat-treated Citrine. Some of the false names used are:
Gold Topaz
Golden Topaz
Madeira Topaz
False Topaz
Brazilian Topaz
Bahia Topaz
Citrine Topaz

Several other false topaz names are:
Brazilian Topaz - yellow to yellow-brown sapphire
Indian Topaz - yellow to yellow-brown sapphire
King Topaz - yellow to yellow-brown sapphire
Oriental Topaz - yellow to yellow-brown sapphire
Smoky Topaz - unscrupulous name for cut smoky quartz
Star Topaz - yellow star sapphire

SIMILAR GEMSTONES
Since topaz occurs in a great range of colors, it may resemble many other gemstones:
Orange-brown and imperial topaz - citrine, zircon, chrysoberl, golden beryl, orange-brown
Pink topaz -morganite, tourmaline, kunzite, rose quartz, spinel
Yellow topaz -chrysoberyl, heliodite, zircon, yellow sapphire
Blue topaz -aquamarine, zircon, spinel, euclase
Silver topaz –diamond, zircon, rock crystal, goshenite, danburite
Green topaz –green beryl, tourmaline, peridot, hiddinite, green garnet