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For the Egyptians topaz was a very powerful amulet against harm, because they believed that topaz was a gemstone colored with the golden glow of the mighty sun god Ra. The Romans associated topaz with Jupiter, who also is the god of the sun. Legend has it that it dispels all enchantment and helps to improve eyesight. The ancient Greeks believed that it had the power to increase strength and make its wearer invisible in times of emergency. Topaz was also said to change color in the presence of poisoned food or drink. It was said to cure insomnia, asthma, and hemorrhages.
The most famous topaz is a giant specimen set in the Portuguese Crown, the Braganza. There is also a beautiful topaz set in the Green Vault in Dresden, one of the world's important gem collections.
Topaz is a common gemstone that has been used for centuries in jewelry. Its golden brown to yellow color is classic but is confused with the less valuable citrine, which is sold under the name topaz. The blue topaz that is often confused with aquamarine is rarely natural and is produced by irradiating and then heating clear crystals. The structure of Topaz is controlled by a chain like structure of connected irregular octahedrons. These octahedrons have an aluminum in the middle surrounded by four oxygens. Above and below the aluminum are the hydroxide or fluoride ions. The chains of octahedrons are held together by individual silicate tetrahedrons but it is the octahedron chains that give topaz its crystalline shape. Topaz is the hardest silicate mineral and one of the hardest minerals in nature. However it has a perfect cleavage which is perpendicular to the chains and is caused by planes that break the weaker Al-O, Al-OH and Al-F bonds. None of the stronger Si-O bonds cross these planes. Topaz crystals can reach incredible size of several houndred pounds. Topaz can make very attractive mineral specimens due to their high luster, nice colors and well formed and multifaceted crystals.
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Natural Topaz is available in several different colors: Colorless (White), Yellowish-Orange with some Peach in it (Imperial) as well as Light Blue, Yellow, Orange, and Pink. Topaz is mainly mined in Brazil, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Africa, and China. We offer Natural untreated Topaz in White, Imperial, Golden, and Pink shades, which are all more expensive than the treated varieties of Blue. Blue Topaz starts as an off color, usually bluish-gray to silvery-gray in color, and it is irradiated with gamma or electron Irradiation, in conjunction with heat to produce bold colors like the blue-green color "London Blue", the light blue color "Sky Blue", the medium blue color "Swiss Blue", and the more intense blue color "Maxi Blue". These colors become permanent treatments to give the gem a very bright, durable, and attractive color, appropriate for any kind of jewelry. There are several other types of treatments being used on some of the Topaz on the market to produce a variety of other colors, but most of those treatments are only on the surface of the gem and/or not permanent treatments, therefore we will not offer them.
The most expensive and most desired of the Yellow tones, ranging in shades of peachy Orange to medium intense Orange to reddish Orange, with sherry Red, deep Pink, and reddish Orange hues. Imperial Topaz is found in only a few locations in the world, the small Island Country of Sri Lanka, and Ouro Preto in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. Gem experts still expect the Imperial Topaz sources to be completely exhausted within a few years. This is a very highly treasured Collectable Gemstone that will increase in value as supply is reduced.
Jewelry featuring Topaz should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Topaz jewelry.
For additional information visit the following website:
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