Topaz Colors Topaz Colors London Blue Topaz Pure topaz , like pure corundum , is transparent and colorless. The wide range of topaz colors that are available is due to either natural trace impurities or defects in the crystal structure. Color diversity is also caused by enhancements performed by the gemstone industry. Topaz can be found in colors including yellow, orange, brown, red, blue, pink, red, violet and green. Colorless topaz is fairly common and is sometimes given a brilliant cut and sold as a substitute for diamond . Indeed, one of the most famous topaz gemstones in the world is a colorless topaz that was originally thought to be a diamond . It is a 1,680 carat stone known as the Braganza Diamond, owned by the royal family of Portugal. The gem apparently disappeared after the death of King John VI in 1826. Swiss Blue Topaz White Topaz Mystic Topaz The most common colors of untreated topaz are pale yellow, brown and gray. Pastel shades of light-green, violet and pink are also found. Since these colors are rarely vivid, they are often treated to produce more exciting hues. The most popular color is blue.

Indeed, blue topaz is the perennial top selling jewelry stone in the USA. Its combination of excellent brilliance, luster and clarity at a very attractive price makes it excellent value. Azotic Topaz However, blue topaz occurs very rarely in nature, and then only in a very pale blue. The striking shades of blue topaz you'll find in the market are the result of widely-used enhancement techniques, usually involving irradiation followed by heating. These techniques produce a deep blue with a slight green tone, known as London blue; a highly saturated medium blue known as Swiss blue; and a bright light-blue known as sky blue. Pink Topaz The most valuable topaz color is an orange to pink color known as imperial topaz . The exact color for imperial topaz is not well-defined, so a wide range of golden orange, peach and pink colored topaz is sold under this name. Some light-pink topaz gems are the result of heat treatment . Bright pink topaz is the result of another enhancement technique - a high tech process known as thin-film deposition. The technology involves depositing an extremely thin metallic layer only a few microns thick. This layer changes the optical properties of the material.

The thin metallic film is applied to the pavilion (bottom half of the gem), so that the interesting color effects are reflected through the crown. The film is molecularly bonded to the stone, effectively becoming part of the topaz. The range of colors is almost limitless, and include bright pink, electric blue and prismatic mystic topaz . First Published: December-17-2008 Last Updated: October-07-2014 © 2005-2017 GemSelect.com all rights reserved. Reproduction (text or graphics) without the express written consent of GemSelect.com (SETT Company Ltd.) is strictly prohibited. See more related information below Topaz: The gemstone Topaz information and pictures Advertising Information The Gemstone Topaz Topaz makes an ideal gem. A good hardness and desirable colors, combined with a relative abundance and availability makes it one the most popular gemstones. The most valuable colors of Topaz are the golden orange-yellow type, called Imperial Topaz , and the dark pinkish-red and orange-red colors. Value increases with a deepness of color in orange and reddish hues. The most commonly used colors of Topaz in jewelry are the blue types.

It was not until this past century that blue Topaz became widespread on the gem market, since virtually all blue gem Topaz is irradiated and heat treated . Topaz ON EBAY ALL ABOUT Topaz is a fairly common and inexpensive gemstone. It can be found in huge and flawless crystals, which can be faceted into giant gemstones which can weigh thousands of carat s. Some of the largest gemstone pieces ever cut were of Topaz. Topaz is a hard and durable gemstone, and will not dissolve in most chemical solvent s. However, it does have perfect cleavage which can make it prone to chipping or forming flaw s if banged hard. Topaz is also a pleochroic gemstone and can have varied color intensity when viewed at different angles. Due to its good cleavage and pleocroic nature, care must be exercised when faceting Topaz gemstones. Blue Topaz does occur in nature, but is rare and almost always lightly color. Most if not all blue Topaz used in jewelry has been irradiated and heat treated to artificially create the blue color. The original stones are colorless or lightly colored, and the radiation process gives them their deep sky-blue colors.

In a few rare circumstances, some forms of blue Topaz tend to slightly fade in exposure to sunlight after extended periods of time. USES Topaz of all different colors are used in jewelry, in rings, earrings, necklaces, pendants, and bracelets. The blue, orange, and pink colors are most often cut as gemstones, and colorless Topaz is becoming increasingly popular as an inexpensive Diamond simulant. Gigantic gems and faceted spheres are cut from huge flawless crystals, and these make exquisite and exclusive collectors items. Topaz is rarely cut into cabochon s. Topaz is the traditional birthstone for November. FALSE NAMES Orange Citrine can resemble Topaz of the same color. Unfortunately, unscrupulous dealers have adapted many false name for Citrine to make it seem like the more valuable Topaz. With the exception of Imperial Topaz , any orange Topaz labeled with a prefix is almost always the less expensive heat treated Citrine . The list below describes terms that can be encountered, yet there are many additional prefixes that can be used by individual jewelers. Bahia Topaz - False name for Citrine . Brazilian Topaz - May refer to Topaz from Brazil, but is often a false name for Citrine .

Citrine Topaz - False name for Citrine . Gold Topaz - False name for Citrine . False Topaz - False name for Citrine . Indian Topaz - Yellow to orange Sapphire . King Topaz - Yellow to orange Sapphire . Madeira Topaz - False name for Citrine . Oriental Topaz - Yellow to orange Sapphire . Smoky Topaz - Dark brown Smoky Quartz . Spanish Topaz - False name for Citrine . Star Topaz - Yellow Star Sapphire . Topaz Quartz - False name for Citrine . Topaz TREATMENTS AND ENHANCEMENTS Blue Topaz, the most commonly used Topaz color, is formed from colorless or lightly colored Topaz that is irradiated to make it blue, and then heat treated to stabilize the new color. Different forms of radiation treatment can produce different shades of blue. Most pink Topaz in the gem trade is heat treated from yellow or brownish Topaz. The colorful Mystic Topaz and Azotic Topaz are synthetically treated to produce their rainbow/multicolored effect using film deposition. The process involves bonding an extremely thin metallic film layer over the top of the gemstone, so that the interesting color effects are reflected from the crown.

The Color Topaz | Topaz Ring The Color Topaz Send The Color Topaz Finding the perfect gemstone can seem incredibly difficult. Not only will you want to find a gemstone that appears beautiful, but you will also want it to be a color that you actually like. One of the best things about Topaz is that there are many different color options available for you to choose from. It is likely that there is an option that suits your own personal taste. Here are some of the things that you should know about the color Topaz. When Topaz is first mined, it usually tends to be a colorless gemstone. At this point, it is called White Topaz. It is also referred to as Diamond Topaz, because it closely resembles the appearance of a diamond. When it is first mined, it is possible and even likely for colorless Topaz to have a tint of another color, such as light brown. While it is somewhat more rare than finding colorless Topaz, it is also possible for this gemstone to already be a color when it is mined. Imperial Topaz, which comes in varying shades of yellow orange, is often found in the natural environment.

This is the variety of the gemstone which is commonly accepted as the birthstone for the month of November. In some areas where Topaz is mined, it is also fairly common for light blue varieties of the gemstone to be discovered. This is called Blue Topaz, which is accepted as one of the birthstones for the month of December. Both blue and yellow varieties of the gemstone are much less common to find in the natural environment than colorless Topaz. Some of there different shaded of Blue Topaz include Sky Blue (the lightest), Swiss Blue, and London Blue (the darkest). Although pink and red Topazes tend to be even more rare than other varieties of the gemstone, it is also possible for them to be naturally discovered as well. Due to the fact that it is so rare to find pink and red Topaz, these color varieties of the gemstone are very desirable and tend to be much more valuable. Many people are unaware of the fact that they even exist, however, since Imperial Topaz and Blue Topaz tend to be the most common options. After Topaz has been mined, the color of the gemstone will be determined in the lab.

Colorless Topaz gemstones are often enhanced in order to achieve a specific color, such as blue, pink, red, green, or yellow orange. It is very common for light brown varieties of the gemstone to be enhanced to a shade of light pink or light blue. Sometimes, colorless Topaz is left that way. Although there are many people who prefer owning a Topaz that is a specific color, anyone who prefers the transparent appearance of diamonds will appreciate colorless Topaz. The ideal Topaz is colored evenly throughout the entire stone. It should not be too dark or too light in any area of the stone. When the gemstone is made synthetically, it is likely to have this even colored appearance. A Topaz can range in appearance from transparent to translucent. If you are wondering what the best option is, it’s important to keep in mind that it really depends on your own personal preferences. Mystic Fire Topaz is one of the color varieties that is made synthetically. It is a combination of purple and green. The way that it works is by placing purple beneath green so that the purple will be reflected through the green. It is very attractive, and has gained a lot of popularity in recent times.

It is safe to say that there are many different colors of Topaz which are available for you to choose from. While Imperial and Blue Topaz tend to be the two most popular color options available to anyone who is interested in this gemstone, it’s important to keep in mind that there are other color varieties to choose from. Whether you prefer green, red, or pink, there is a good chance that one of these colors is suitable to your tastes. Please visit our Topaz Chemistry page for addiational information. TOPAZ main Sources Requires a source of fluorine; during the late-stage crystallization of certain types of igneous rocks fluorine vapor is present and can be trapped in pegmatites or gas cavities in volcanic rocks. In the latter setting, topaz is often associated with tin deposits. In pegmatites it is often associated with apatite, tourmaline, fluorite, and beryl.

Brazil (Minas Gerias, near Ouro Preto) Most of the worlds production; from pegmatites Imperial Topaz (worlds only source), sherry-colored, yellow and blue Sherry-colored is heated to produce pink Most (if not all) Brazilian blue topaz has be treated (see below) to enhance or alter the original color. Mexico, near San Luis Potosi Significant source; in cavities in rhyolitic volcanic rocks Most very pale pink to colorless, or sherry-brown Some more deeply colored stones are known to fade in sunlight Sri Lanka Color Enhancement of Blue Topaz Blue topaz is currently the biggest selling "nontraditional" colored stone in the U.S.. The current popularity of blue topaz is a direct result of its phenomenally low cost compared to other blue stones (aquamarine, sapphire) which, in turn, can be traced to the veritable glut of blue topaz that has resulted from the widespread treatment of abundant colorless or pale blue Brazilian topaz to a darker blue color. A variety of techniques have been and are currently being used to enhance color in topaz. All involve the creation (and sometimes partial destruction) of color centers. The most widely used techniques are described below.

It is important to realize that none of the techniques produce "characteristic" colors that can be ascribed to a particular treatment, nor are the trade names used to describe the treated material always definitive. There is, in fact, no definitive method for differentiating among stones treated by the various techniques or for telling treated from untreated stones. 1) Gamma Cells - exposure to a gamma ray source (60Co commonly used) will produce both blue and yellow color centers in some topaz, resulting in a brownish or brownish-green color. Subsequent heating removes the less stable yellow color centers without affecting the blue. Such treatment, though once common, is not widely used today because it is not capable of producing the darker, purer blues that are in highest demand and that can be created by the other techniques described below. The light blue color produced by gamma ray treatment has been given the trade name "Cobalt Blue". Darker blue stones that have undergone such a treatment are often grayish blue ("steely" blue).

Gamma ray treatment is used more often today as a "pretreating" or screening process that can reveal stones that are more likely to be susceptible to treatment by the higher energy techniques described below; such stones will take on a bluish tint during this initial treatment. 2) Linear Accelerators (" linac " treatment) - topaz exposed to high energy electron beam. Process generates considerable heat; topaz is water cooled to avoid thermal shock and spontaneous destruction of color centers. Process must be followed by heat treatment, as above, to destroy the unwanted, less stable yellow color centers. Result is typically a deeper blue stone (with little to no gray; trade name "Sky Blue") than can be produced by gamma ray treatment, but one that is radioactive for a short period of time. Such stones must be allowed to sit for a couple of weeks in order for the residual radiation to decline to safe levels. 3) Nuclear Reactors - topaz exposed to fast neutrons, producing blue color. No subsequent heating required. Color is typically a medium to dark grayish blue, sometimes described as "steely" or "inky". Trade name for this material is "London Blue". Heat treatment can be used to lighten the inky cast.

Material treated this way is likely to be quite radioactive and may require several months or more of storage before the radioactivity decays to safe levels. All material treated this way falls under the jurisdiction of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; all producers and importers of this material must be licensed by the NRC. 4) Combination Treatments - treatments combining nuclear reactor, linear accelerator and heating to produce dark blue colors without the "inkiness" of the London Blue material. Trade names for this material include "Electra Blue", "Super Blue", "New Blue", "Swiss Blue", "Max Blue", "American Blue", "California Blue", and "Super Sky Blue". Topaz: The mineral topaz information and pictures Advertising Information The Mineral topaz Topaz is a well-known mineral, occurring in large and beautifully shaped and colored crystals. It naturally occurs in many colors, but rarely in pink, purple, and deep blue. Those colors are formed from lighter-colored stones that undergo irradiation and heat treatment . Topaz from certain localities may also turn pink or colorless upon heating. The color of some Topaz specimens, namely those from Siberia, fade upon prolonged exposure to light.

Topaz crystals in a matrix are rare and very much desired, since the perfect basal cleavage of Topaz causes it to separate from its base and form loose crystals. Precautions must be taken not to damage specimens, for pressure or improper faceting can cause a crystal to cleave and become ruined. For additional information, see the gemstone section on Topaz . NOTEWORTHY LOCALITIES The most important Topaz deposits are in Brazil. Exceptionally large crystals come from many of the Brazilian pegmatite localities in Minas Gerais, especially at Itinga and Virgem da Lapa, in the Jequitinhonha valley. The famous golden orange-brown Imperial Topaz , as well as Topaz of pinkish tones, come from the famous occurrence in Minas Gerais at Ouero Prito. Other Brazilian occurrences are Mimoso do Sul, in Espírito Santo, which has produced very large crystals; and Brumado, in Bahia, which produces fine natural pink crystals. The most classic locality of blue Topaz is Murzinka, Ekaterinburg, in the Ural Mountains of Russia.

Multicolored yellow and blue Topaz comes from Nerchinsk, Transbaikalia, Russia; and transparent and often etched crystals from Volodarsk-Volynskii, Zhytomyr, Ukraine. Glassy colorless and sherry crystals, some very large in size, come from the gem mines at Mogok, Burma (Myanmar). Excellent gem crystals are found in the Gaoligong Mts, Nujiang, Yunnan Province, China; and Goricho, Ghorkhi massiv, Mongolia. Large and outstanding thick crystals come from Pakistan in the Gilgit and Skardu Districts, in Baltistan, (especially the Shigar Valley, Shengus, and Dassu). Pink and purple Topaz with exceptionally deep color comes from Katlung, Khyber, Pakistan. White, rounded waterworn Topaz crystals are well-known at Killiecrankie Bay, Flinders Island, Tasmania, Australia. Classic yellow Topaz crystals once came from the Schneckenstein, Klingenthal, Saxony, Germany; and odd-shaped radiating microcrystals from the Eifel Mountains of Germany.

Topaz crystals have recently been found in the Strzegon Granite Quarries in Strzegom, Poland. Water-clear and colorless crystals of top quality come from Klein Spitzkopje, in the Erongo Region, Namibia; and a natural deep blue Topaz from the St Anne's Mine, Mwami, Zimbabwe. Very good Topaz crystals also come from the Jos Plateau, Plateau State, Nigeria. In Mexico, a famous locality that produces multicolored Topaz with brownish-red tints is Tepetate, San Luis Potosí; along with the Veronica Mine, Copetillo; and Villa Garcia, Zacatecas. In the U.S., the best and most well-known Topaz occurrence is the Thomas Range, Juab Co., Utah (especially Topaz Mountain and Maynard's Claim), where lustrous sherry colored crystals with good pointed termination s are associated with a rhyolite matrix . A new find of good Topaz crystals is the Zapot Mine, near Hawethorne, Mineral Co., Nevada, which produces rare green crystals.

Topaz is found in the gem pegmatite s of San Diegeo County, in localities such as the Little Three Mine in Ramona, and the Ware Mine in Oak Grove. Colorless Topaz come from the Pikes Peak area in El Paso Co., Colorado, particularly in Glen Cove, Devils Head, and Crystal Peak. Fine colorless and light blue tabular crystals come from Mason Co., Texas (near Streeter, Katemcy, and Grit). Other localities include the Tarryall Mts, Park Co., Colorado; the Morefield Mine, Winterham, Amelia Co., Virginia; Trumbull, Fairfield Co., Connecticut; Moat Mountain, Carroll Co., New Hampshire; and South Baldface Mountain, Chatham, Carroll Co., New Hampshire. Topaz | Uses and Properties of the Mineral and Gem Topaz A gemstone that occurs in a wide range of natural and treated colors. Colored Topaz Crystals: A collection of topaz crystals of various natural colors - sherry, imperial, pink, and purple. Most topaz crystals are colorless. Most topaz in commercial jewelry has been heated, irradiated, or coated to improve its color.

Specimens and photos by Arkenstone / What is Topaz? Topaz is a rare silicate mineral with a chemical composition of Al2SiO4(F,OH)2. It usually forms in fractures and cavities of igneous rocks such as pegmatite and rhyolite , late in their cooling history. It is also found as water-worn pebbles in stream sediments derived from those igneous rocks. Topaz is a well-known gemstone sold in a wide variety of attractive colors. Some of these colors are natural, while others are produced by treating pale or colorless topaz with heat, radiation, or metallic coatings. Physical Properties of Topaz Gemstone, Mohs hardness index mineral. Physical Properties of Topaz One of the best-known physical properties of topaz is its hardness. It has a hardness of 8 on the Mohs hardness scale . It also serves as the Mohs hardness scale index mineral for a hardness of 8. Every student who takes an introductory geology course learns about the hardness of topaz. Diamond , corundum , and chrysoberyl are the only commonly-known minerals that are harder. Most topaz is colorless or milky.

Yellowish and brownish colors are also common. Natural pink, orange, red, purple, and blue topaz are rare and valuable if they are of gem quality. When allowed to grow unrestricted, topaz forms orthorhombic crystals, often with striations that parallel the long axis of the crystal. It also has a distinct basal cleavage that breaks perpendicular to the long axis of the crystal. This cleavage makes topaz a more fragile gemstone than its hardness of 8 would imply. Hardness is the resistance to being scratched, but the ability to resist breakage is a property known as tenacity. Topaz has a specific gravity that ranges between 3.4 and 3.6. This is quite high for a mineral composed of aluminum, silicon, and gaseous elements. Blue Topaz: Faceted ovals of two colors of blue topaz that are popular today. On the left is a "Swiss Blue" topaz weighing 2.02 carats. On the right is a "London Blue" weighing 2.26 carats. Both stones were colorless topaz mined in Brazil, then irradiated and heated to produce the blue colors.

Topaz with treated blue color is the most common color of topaz in commercial jewelry today. Topaz Treatment Methods: Colorless topaz, also known as white topaz, (top left) can be irradiated and heated to produce gems with a blue color (top right). Irradiation alone can produce a pale pink color (bottom right). Coating with certain metallic oxides can produce a vivid pink color (bottom left). Most topaz in commercial jewelry today is colorless material that has been heated, irradiated, or coated to improve its color. Use of Topaz as a Gemstone The name "topaz" and many language variants have been used for yellowish gemstones for at least two thousand years. At that time all yellowish gems were called topaz in many parts of the world. People who traded in gems did not realize that these yellowish stones were of many different kinds. Then, about two hundred years ago, people who traded in gems began to realize that these yellowish gems might be topaz, quartz , beryl , olivine , sapphire , or one of many other minerals. They also learned that topaz occurred in a wide range of colors other than yellow.

Today, gemologists know the full range of colors for natural topaz. If you visited a jewelry store fifty years ago and asked to see topaz, you would likely be shown gems that were in the color range of yellow, orange, and brown. Starting in the 1970s and 1980s, the most common color that you would be shown began to be blue. This blue color was usually produced by treatments that converted colorless topaz into a more marketable gemstone. "Mystic" Topaz: Some topaz is heated and then coated with a metallic oxide to change its color or to produce an iridescent effect. These treatments are sold under the trade name of "mystic topaz." These materials are simply clear topaz with a coating that might not be very durable. Topaz Treatments Today most topaz offered in mall and department store jewelry stores at low to moderate price levels has been treated in a laboratory. Colorless topaz is heated, irradiated, and coated with thin layers of metallic oxides to alter its color. Natural blue topaz is extremely rare and is usually pale blue.

Almost all of the blue topaz offered in stores is colorless topaz that has been irradiated and then heated to produce a blue color. "Swiss blue" and "London blue" are trade names for two of the most common varieties of treated blue topaz seen in today's market. Natural pink to purple topaz is also extremely rare. These colors are often produced in a laboratory. The starting point is a stone cut from colorless topaz. It is first heated and then coated with a layer of metallic oxide to produce the pink color. If coated stones are worn in jewelry, over time the coating often wears thin or wears through at points on the stone where abrasion occurs. Some topaz is coated with a metallic oxide that gives the stone a multicolored iridescent luster. These stones, known as "mystic topaz," appear to change color if the observer moves the stone under a light or changes the angle of observation. These coatings are also thin and can be worn through during wear. Topaz Mountain Rhyolite: Outcrop of stratified tuff of the Topaz Mountain Rhyolite, filling a paleovalley.

These valley fills were once thought to be deposited by water, but now many of them are believed to have been deposited by ground surges of hot ash. The Topaz Mountain Rhyolite has many vuggy areas, which often contain champagne-colored topaz crystals. Located in western Utah. USGS image. The best way to learn about minerals is to study with a collection of small specimens that you can handle, examine, and observe their properties. Inexpensive mineral collections are available in the Geology.com Store . Geologic Occurrence of Topaz Topaz has a chemical composition of Al2SiO4(F,OH)2. The fluorine in its composition is a limiting factor on its formation. Fluorine gas in concentrations high enough to form minerals only occurs in a few geologic environments. Most topaz forms the veins and cavities of igneous rocks such as pegmatite and rhyolite. It forms during the late stages of magma cooling while hydrothermal activity delivers fluorine. Topaz occurs in pockets within pegmatites, in fractures that carried hydrothermal fluids, and in gas cavities within rhyolite. Precipitating in cavities, topaz sometimes develops nicely-formed crystals.

These crystals can have excellent clarity and can be used as a gem material. Especially attractive crystals of topaz are popular with mineral collectors. They have the value of a mineral specimen and the value of a gem material. Topaz is also found as water-worn pebbles in stream sediments derived from the weathering of pegmatites and rhyolites. These are often produced by placer mining. Topaz is found in many locations worldwide where rocks like pegmatite and rhyolite are formed. It is only a minor mineral at these locations, and it is considered to be a rare mineral on the basis of its general abundance. Brazil is the leading source of gem-quality topaz today. Sri Lanka is another important producer. Topaz is also produced in Nigeria, Australia, Pakistan, Russia, India, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, and Namibia. In the United States, Utah named topaz as its state gemstone. More Gemstones Topaz Quality Factors Topaz Quality Factors Blue topaz makes a perfect gem material for artistic carvings. - Lydia Dyer, courtesy of John Dyer & Co.

Color Red is one of the most sought-after topaz colors and represents less than one-half of 1 percent of facet-grade material found. The color the trade calls imperial topaz is highly prized and very rare. Many dealers insist that a stone must show a reddish pleochroic color to be called imperial topaz. The reddish pleochroic color often appears at the ends of fashioned gems—like pears and ovals—that have an otherwise yellow-to-orange bodycolor. Imperial is one of the most highly prized topaz colors, as seen in this spectacular prize-winning, orangy-red, flame-shaped gem. - Gem courtesy of John Dyer & Co. A fashioned topaz that displays a combination of two colors is called bicolor topaz. Some say that pink topaz, often called rose topaz, resembles a pink diamond or a bright pink sapphire. Pink topaz has certain advantages over these two gems. It’s much less expensive than pink diamond, and it’s often available in larger sizes than either diamond or sapphire. Dealers often use the trade term “sherry topaz” for yellowish brown or brownish yellow to orange topaz. The term comes from the color of sherry wine.

Stones in that color range are also sometimes called precious topaz. This helps distinguish them from less expensive citrine and smoky quartz, both of which look similar to, and are frequently misrepresented as, topaz. Golden or yellow topaz lacks the prized red overtones of imperial topaz. It’s also much more abundant and therefore less valuable. Although brown topaz is also less valuable, it has been used in striking pieces of jewelry and ornamental art. In nature, topaz is most commonly colorless, and naturally strong blue gems are extremely rare. In the marketplace, however, strong blue shades are plentiful. Treatments are the reason for this. Treaters use a combination of radiation and heat to produce blue hues in topaz. Since the 1970s, treatments have brought blue topaz to a broad market. Irradiation and heat treatment transform colorless topaz to various shades of blue. Starting in the 1970s, treatment created a huge market for inexpensive blue topaz. - © GIA & Tino Hammid When it was first introduced to the market, treated blue topaz sold for $20 to $40 per carat.

But oversupply led to huge drops in wholesale prices, down to a few dollars or less per carat. Today, blue topaz is basically a mass-market gem, and price is often the most important consideration for many buyers. Uniformity of color and cut is also important, especially for mass-market jewelry manufacturers. The nature of the starting material and the type of treatment determine the blue that results. These treated topaz stones, weighing from 2.72 carats to 7.86 carats, show a range of hue, tone, and saturation. - Courtesy Chuck Ashbaugh Clarity Fashioned topaz gems are often free of visible inclusions or flaws. This especially true of blue, colorless, and yellow topaz. This ring, designed by Maria Canale, holds a 12.25-carat untreated topaz from Brazil. The gem has no visible inclusions. - Courtesy Richard Krementz Gemstones Cut Because topaz crystals are usually elongated or columnar, they’re often cut as long oval or pear shapes to improve yield. If the rough is strongly colored, the cutter often chooses the emerald cut because that cutting style maximizes color and retains the most weight.

Topaz is cut in a wide variety of shapes and cutting styles. Production includes all the standard gem shapes such as ovals, pears, rounds, cushions, triangles, marquise, and emerald cuts as well as designer-inspired fantasy shapes. A modern mixed cutting style dramatically intensifies the color of this 14.68-carat bright blue topaz. - Lydia Dyer, Topaz StarBrite courtesy of John Dyer & Co. Cutting styles are also well represented. Brilliant cuts with triangular and kite-shaped facets, step cuts with concentric rows of parallel facets, and mixed cuts usually consisting of brilliant-cut crowns and step-cut pavilions are all common. Designer cuts fashioned by hand and machine are popular, too. The uniform color of treated blue topaz makes it a highly suitable material for cutting into standard sizes for jewelry. Because there is an abundant supply of treated blue topaz, it’s often cut into calibrated sizes for use in mass market and multi-stone jewelry. Carat Weight Standard topaz cuts for the jewelry industry include a wide range of shapes and sizes. The gem is inexpensive in smaller sizes, but prices rise for gems above 10×8 mm.

This 61.78-carat carved topaz is a truly unique sculptural piece. Skilled workmanship intensifies the blue color to produce an effect like shimmering droplets of water. Blue topaz makes a perfect material for large carvings due to availability in large sizes. - Lydia Dyer, Blue Topaz Sculptural Gem courtesy of John Dyer & Co. Learn More About Topaz Explore topaz history, research, quality factors, and more in the GIA Gem Encyclopedia. Blue Topaz | Topaz Ring Blue Topaz Send Blue Topaz Topaz is a very popular gemstone. One of the most desirable qualities about the gemstone is that it comes in a number of different colors. Blue Topaz is, by far, one of the most popular color options that is available for this gemstone. It is believed that one of the main reasons that Blue Topaz has gained so much popularity in recent times is because it is now accepted on the charts as one of the birthstones for the month of December. Here are some of the things that you may be interested in knowing about the color of Blue Topaz, as well as how the popular gemstone is created.

Blue Topaz Rings can come in a variety of different shades of blue. It ranges from a very light shade of blue to a fairly dark shade of medium blue in color. When it is at its lightest shade of blue, the December birthstone can be easily mistaken for Aquamarine, which is another gemstone that is recognized for its beautiful blue hue. At times, Blue Topaz can appear transparent, but it is more common for it to look translucent. Most people do not know it, but there are several different names that are used to describe the specific shade of blue that a Topaz gemstone may be. These names include Sky Blue Topaz, Swiss Blue Topaz, and London Blue Topaz. Sky Blue is the lightest shade of Blue Topaz, while London Blue is the darkest shade of the gemstone. Many people feel that Swiss Blue is the most ideal color option, but it really depends on your own taste in gemstones and colors. Prior to popular belief, it is not all that uncommon for Blue Topaz to be derived from the natural environment. There are certain areas throughout the world where mining blue varieties of Topaz is a much more common occurrence.

Much like the other colors that this gemstone can be found in, blue varieties are not found in every single location where Topaz is mined. While blue is not the most rare color variety is discovered, it is not all that common in most mining locations. Keep in mind that although it is possible for Blue Topazes to be found in the natural environment, it is much more common for the gemstone to be created synthetically. It is very common for the color of light brown or colorless gemstones to be enhanced to a shade of blue. The main reason that this is so common is because Blue Topaz is one of the most popular and desirable varieties of the gemstone. Topaz is an incredibly beautiful gemstone. It is available in many different colors, ranging from a shade of yellow orange to pink. If you are thinking about purchasing a Topaz for yourself or as a gift for someone else, then you may want to think about choosing a Blue Topaz. Not only is this gemstone incredibly beautiful, but it is a great choice for those who like the color blue.

Topaz Gemstone & Jewelry Information; Natural Topaz: GemSelect Topaz; Origin and Gemstone Sources Back to Top Deposits of topaz have been found in Brazil, Afghanistan, Australia, Myanmar (Burma), China, Germany, Japan, Madagascar, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and the USA. Natural light-blue topaz is found in Northern Ireland and the UK. Enormous topaz crystals have been discovered in Minas Gerais (Brazil) and Ukraine. Buying Topaz and Determining Topaz Gemstone Value Back to Top Topaz Color Topaz ranges from colorless (white) to yellow, orange, red-brown, light to dark-blue, pink to red, violet and light-green. This is the reason why it can be mistaken for many other gemstones. Naturally colored topaz gets its color from iron and chromium; the impurities cause color, whereas pure topaz is colorless. Most unadulterated topaz is colorless or pale blue. The most rare and valuable topaz is yellow, or pink to reddish-orange, and is known as " imperial topaz " or "precious topaz".

Some yellowish-brown topaz gems can gradually fade when continually exposed to daylight. Red and violet topaz is incredibly rare. A lot of topaz is treated in order to enhance the color. Reputable gem sellers declare any enhancements. Topaz Clarity and Luster Topaz is transparent to translucent. It exhibits high clarity with few inclusions, so topaz gemstones can be examined by the naked eye and found to be "eye clean", which means that no imperfections can be seen. Topaz is highly prized for its brilliance and vitreous (glassy) luster. Topaz Cut and Shape Topaz is a very versatile material. Therefore it can be cut into a great variety of shapes, such as square, round, octagon, pear, oval, heart and even fancy shapes such as fish or birds. Strongly colored gemstones are usually scissor cut whereas weakly colored stones are generally brilliantly cut. The facets show off the clarity and brilliance of the gem. When topaz has irregular inclusions, it is often cabochon cut. Its hardness makes it resistant to scratches. However, lapidarists must handle topaz carefully, due to its perfect cleavage, which means that it can easily fracture.

Topaz Treatment Topaz is often enhanced to produce the most desirable colors. The most popular color for topaz is blue, but in nature, blue topaz is usually pale blue rather than bright or deep blue. The brilliant blue shades of topaz are usually achieved by artificial means. Topaz is exposed to radiation (a process known as irradiation) and then usually heated, to produce striking blue colors. A deep blue enhanced topaz is known as "London blue"; medium blue is called "Swiss blue" and light-blue is termed "sky blue". This blue color treatment is usually performed on grayish-blue or silver-gray gemstones. The darker blue shades are more valuable because more energy is needed to produce darker colors. Orange-brown topaz is heat-treated during a process known as "pinking", which produces a purplish-pink color. These processes are widely accepted, since they result in permanent color change, however, they should be declared by traders. There are strict rules regarding the handling of irradiated gemstones, to ensure the safety of gem handlers and buyers. Naturally pink topaz is rare and is usually a pale shade of pink. It occurs in Pakistan. A thin coating of titanium dioxide vapor can be applied to topaz stones.

Topaz can also be coated to change its color. Coatings are not permanent and can gradually fade over time. Stones that have been treated in this way should not be re-cut, since the coating will be taken off and reveal a different, undesirable color inside. Coating treatment produces iridescent stones known as "mystic topaz". Azotic topaz is white topaz that has been color-enhanced by coating it with a thin film which gives it rainbow colors. It is named after the company that patented the Azotic process. Topaz is also coated to produce vivid pink and imitation "imperial topaz". White topaz can also be exposed to diffusion treatment, which means that it is exposed to chemicals and heat, to change the surface color. This treatment is performed to produce "green topaz", but the treatment only changes the surface color, so that if the gem is re-cut, the original, undesirable color will be revealed. As with irradiation, any surface treatments or coatings are declared by reputable gem sellers. Natural topaz can also be found.

Topaz Gemological Properties: Back to Top Chemical Formula: Vitreous Fluorescence: Under long wavelength UV, white and blue shows a weak yellow or greenish glow; brown, pink and yellow can show a strong orange-yellow glow; red shows a weak yellow-brown glow Please refer to our Gemstone Glossary for details of gemology-related terms. Topaz: Related or Similar Gemstones Back to Top London Blue Topaz Topaz can appear similar to a variety of other gemstones depending on the color. In fact, the ancient Greeks are thought to have mistaken chrysolite for topaz. Orange-brown and imperial topaz is similar to citrine, zircon, chrysoberyl, golden beryl and sapphire. Pink topaz appears to be similar to morganite, tourmaline, kunzite, rose quartz and spinel. Yellow topaz can be compared with chrysoberyl, heliodor, zircon and yellow sapphire. Blue topaz is similar to aquamarine, zircon, spinel and euclase. White topaz shares some characteristics with diamond, zircon, rock crystal and goshenite.

Topaz is chemically related to sillimanite, andalusite, kanonaite, kyanite and mullite. Topaz Gemstone Mythology, Metaphysical and Alternative Crystal Healing Powers Back to Top The ancient Greeks believed that topaz was a powerful stone that could increase the strength of the wearer and even provide invisibility in desperate times. Both the ancient Egyptians and the Romans associated topaz with the Sun God. Imperial topaz is the birthstone for those born in November and for those born under the zodiacal sign of Sagittarius. It is also the gemstone that commemorates the 23rd wedding anniversary. Blue topaz is the birthstone for December and is used to commemorate the 4th wedding anniversary. In traditional Indian belief systems, topaz is said to unlock the throat chakra, which facilitates communication and self-expression. Therefore, topaz is thought to be beneficial to artists, writers, public speakers and others who are concerned with self-expression. Some believe that topaz can promote virility in men. Disclaimer: Metaphysical and Alternative Crystal Healing Powers and Properties are not to be taken as confirmed advice.

Traditional, Ceremonial and Mythological Gemstone Lore is collected from various resources and does not represent the sole opinion of SETT Co., Ltd. This information is not to replace the advice of your doctor. Should you have any medical conditions, please see a licensed medical practitioner. GemSelect does not guarantee any claims or statements of healing or astrological birthstone powers and cannot be held liable under any circumstances. Topaz Gemstone and Jewelry Design Ideas Back to Top Topaz can be made into an almost limitless variety of jewelry due to its versatility. It is ideal for wearing in topaz rings , necklaces, bracelets and pendants and can be fashioned into almost any shape. As with diamond, topaz should be protected from hard knocks by protected settings in rings for daily wear. This is because a single blow could cause fracturing due to perfect cleavage. Topaz is very hard (8 on the Mohs scale), which gives it durability and resistance to scratches. Note: Buy colored gemstones by size and not by carat weight. Colored stones vary in size-to-weight ratio . Some stones are larger and others are smaller than diamonds by weight in comparison.

Famous Topaz Gemstones Back to Top The "El-Dorado Topaz" is the largest faceted gemstone in the world and weighs an enormous 31,000 carats (6.2 kg). It is an emerald-cut yellow topaz gemstone that was found in Minas Gerais, Brazil and then weighed 37 kg, uncut. The American Golden Topaz, which is another enormous gem, weighs an astounding 22,892.5 carats (4.6 kg). It is on display in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. It is one of the largest faceted gems in the world, came from Minas Gerais in Brazil and two years were taken to cut its 172 facets. There are unbelievably enormous uncut yellow topaz crystals reaching a mass of 31 kg (the Lindsay Uncut Topaz) and 50 kg (the Freeman Uncut Topaz). These uncut gems are on display as part of the Smithsonian Museum's collection. The Chalmers Topaz is another huge cut topaz, and weighs 5,899.5 carats (1.17990 kg).

It is white with a blue cast and is a brilliant-cut oval-shaped gem. It is displayed at the Field Museum of Natural History, USA. In 1964, some blocks of blue topaz, each weighing an amazing 100 kg were found in the Ukraine. Another famous topaz gemstone is the 1640 carat Braganza "Diamond", which is part of the Portuguese Crown Jewel collection. It was originally believed to be a diamond, probably because it was found in Minas Gerais, near where diamonds had been discovered, but was later found to be a white topaz crystal. Topaz Gemstone Jewelry Care and Cleaning Back to Top Like diamond, topaz has perfect cleavage, which means that the force of a single blow could cause it to split. Therefore, protected bezel settings are recommended, rather than pronged settings, for rings that are worn daily. Topaz's hardness (8 on the Mohs scale) makes it durable and means that it does not scratch easily. To clean your topaz, simply use soapy water and a soft cloth. Be sure to rinse well to remove soapy residue. As with most gemstones, ultrasonic cleaners and steamers are not recommended.

Always remove any jewelry or gemstones before exercising, cleaning or engaging in harsh physical activities such as sports. Store topaz away from other gemstones to avoid scratches. It is best to wrap gemstones in soft cloth or place them inside a fabric-lined jewelry box. First Published: February-08-2007 Last Updated: September-30-2016 © 2005-2017 GemSelect.com all rights reserved. Reproduction (text or graphics) without the express written consent of GemSelect.com (SETT Company Ltd.) is strictly prohibited. See more related information below

Question: What is the most common colour of a topaz?
Answer: Yellow