Amber Laine

• Features blue topaz
• Pendant measures about 1 1/8" x 1 3/16"
• .925 sterling silver
• Typically ships next business day

Topaz

Tidbits about Topaz

• In the book of Exodus in the Christian Bible, God commands that Aaron's sacred priest breastplate be adorned with a topaz, among other stones, to be used for making decisions.
• Topaz is known as spiritual rejuvenation gemstone
• Topaz was believed to change color in the presence of poisoned food or drink.
• The mystical powers of topaz were believed to change with the phases of the moon.
• Topaz has been said to cure insomnia, asthma, and hemorrhages.
• Topaz is the state stone of Utah.
• Blue topaz is the state stone of Texas.
• A gift of Blue Topaz is symbolic of love and fidelity.

What exactly is Topaz?

From ancient times continuing even today (when we know better!) topaz is a name used for many different types of stones that share the traditional topaz color – that golden orange or yellow color that seems to glow with the warmth of the sun – but don't be fooled: topaz is the real deal. It's a silicate made from aluminium and fluorine, while other stones such as citrine that are sometimes sold as topaz have different chemical makeup. To distinguish between real topaz and stones that just look like topaz, some people refer to real topaz as "precious" or "imperial" topaz. But topaz isn't limited to just that iconic golden orange! It also comes in pink, blue, brown, and green, all of which have a variety of shades depending on what kinds of impurities they have. Pure topaz is actually clear, but those impurities give it a dazzling array of colors. Sometimes, certain colors of topaz are given specific names, like imperial topaz (which also refers to many shades of pink hued topaz) and blue topaz (which can also be divided into sky blue topaz, Swiss blue topaz, and London blue topaz). Different colors are valued differently, but in the end, it's all topaz: a beautiful, hard, versatile stone great for setting in almost any jewelry.

Colors of Topaz

Topaz tends to be a light-colored stone. Pink topaz is the most valuable (topaz gemstones with a pinkish hue are sometimes called imperial topaz) and blue topaz is currently the most popular. Pink topaz and blue topaz are very rare in nature and are what you buy is more than likely treated to achieve the desired color. Pink topaz can be created with heat treatment, while blue topaz can be created with a combination of gamma irradiation and heat treatment. The end result is a permanent color change that lets you have the stone of your dreams in the color you desire for a fraction of the cost of a naturally colored topaz gemstone.

Famous Topaz

Topaz occurs all over the world. It has been mined in Russian, Brazil, Mexico, Pakistan, and the United States, among other places. Topaz can occur in huge boulders. One giant piece of topaz was cut over the course of two years into a sphere that weighs 22892.50 carats! Possibly the most famous topaz is the the clear Braganza topaz in the Portuguese crown jewels, weighing 1,680 carats. It was until fairly recently considered to be a diamond.

Topaz 101: A History

Topaz gets its name from name comes from Greek Topazios, an island in the Red Sea (St. John's Island) that produced yellow crystal, now believed to be something other than topaz, probably yellow peridot. But yellow gems have been called topaz for ages, and many of the beliefs and origin myths surrounding it refer to its typically sunny color. Egyptians believed it got its color from their sun god, Ra. It has also been associated with Jupiter, the Roman god of the sun. Real topaz as we (some of us, anyway!) know it today has only been known for about 400 years. Topaz is said to have a cooling effect, quelling passions, anger, and fear and balancing emotions. It brings joy. In ancient times it was believed by many cultures to change color if poison were present. It was also believed to improve vision. It was even thought by some that it could make the wearer invisible in a dangerous situation.

Uses for Topaz

Topaz is the birthstone for November, and the zodiac stone for Scorpio. Blue topaz has recently become a substitute birthstone for December. The gift of a blue topaz is a gift of love and fidelity. A traditional yellow hued topaz is the anniversary stone for the fourth, nineteenth and twenty-third wedding anniversaries.

Mystic Topaz

Mystic topaz is topaz made spectacularly iridescent by coating a colorless cut piece of topaz with a very thin film of titanium through a process called physical vapor deposition. Also called Alaska Topaz, Mystic Fire Topaz, Caribbean Topaz, Rainbow Topaz, and Fire Topaz, the mystic topaz is clear topaz transformed into a colorful gemstone filled with fiery flashes of purple, blue, and green. The film is applied to the underside of the stone – known as the pavilion – so that the table and the crown remain natural topaz. As the titanium film is very easily scratched off, not coating the most prominent parts of the jewel makes sure the mystic topaz doesn't scratch with normal wear. Still, the coated parts of this iridescent rainbow gem are still easily scratched, so they should be handled with care. The coating is also more sensitive to chemicals than the topaz underneath, so commercial jewelry cleaners should not be used. Keep it away from bleach, swimming pools, and household cleaners. Do not use a brush to clean your mystic topaz jewelry. Instead use a soft cosmetics applicator and a few drops of dish soap in warm water. As with regular topaz, do not use an ultrasonic cleaner or a steamer.

How to Care for Your Topaz

Topaz – an eight on the Mohs hardness scale – is pretty resistant to scratching. But, care must be taken when storing your topaz jewelry that it does not scratch the metal or softer stones of your jewelry collection. To prevent scratching, it is a good idea to store all of your jewelry separately, or in individual cloth or plastic bags. Because of its hardness, topaz can be cleaned easily at home with a soft bristled brush and warm soapy water. Just a few drops of soap ought to do. Make sure to rinse and dry the stone quickly and completely with a soft, lint-free cloth. Topaz is resistant to many chemicals, so it may also be cleaned with commercial jewelry cleaners. Nevertheless, you should never expose your topaz jewelry to acids, and remove all jewelry before swimming. Although hard, Topaz is also a brittle stone, which means you should never wear it while doing heavy labor and be careful to prevent sharp blows and impacts that could cause the stone to crack. Topaz may also change color if left in the sun or exposed to high heat, so never use an ultrasonic cleaner or steamer to clean your topaz jewelry.