Topaz
Topaz – natural stone
Topaz is a mineral belonging to the silicate group. It consists of columnar, isometric and sometimes barrel-shaped crystals. It is transparent and brittle, so gem cutters must handle it with exceptional care. Thanks to traces of iron, titanium, chromium or vanadium, topaz occurs in many unique colours. It is found in igneous rocks such as granite and pegmatite. It is often found with tourmalines and fluorites. Topaz stones are mined mainly in Brazil, but are also found in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nigeria, Mozambique, Germany and Poland. The largest topaz was discovered in Minas Gerais, Brazil, weighing five tonnes. The name comes from the Greek word ‘topazios’, meaning ‘to seek’, or from the Sanskrit word ‘topas’, meaning ‘fire’, referring to the brilliance of the noble varieties of this mineral.
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Topaz – uses, price
Topaz stone has a very wide range of uses. In the past, along with diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, it was used to adorn royal garments and crowns. Currently, it is used, among other things, in the production of abrasive and refractory materials. For many people, it is also a very valuable collector’s stone. Topaz stones are most commonly used in jewellery making. Those that are blue in colour and have a faceted cut, which enhances their brilliance and brings out the most beautiful aspects of the stone, are the most sought after. In the case of topazes, the most important factors are their colour and clarity, which is why they are most often found in the form of faceted stones, which bring out these qualities to the best advantage. The price of topaz depends on many factors, including the aforementioned clarity and colour. The topaz stone looks beautiful in rings, pendants, earrings, bracelets or brooches. Thanks to its cleavage, cutters can give it different shapes such as tears, ovals or octagons. Because of its attractive price (compared to other gemstones, which are more expensive) and the fact that topaz comes in many shapes and sizes, it is a very popular mineral for jewellers to use in their creations.
Topaz stone properties
Topazes are gemstones with many distinctive properties. They are the hardest silicates in the world, with a hardness of 8/10 on the Mohs scale. Because of their hardness, topazes are considered precious stones. Due to their brittleness, topazes are susceptible to damage during the making of jewellery; on the other hand, this property allows the creation of various stone shapes, such as hearts. The density of topaz varies from 3.53 to 3.56 g/cm3. Topaz stones exhibit pleochroism, a change in colour tone depending on the polarization of light. Topazes can also contain liquid and gaseous inclusions, which determine their price.
Colours and types of topazes in our online store
Topaz stones occur in many different colours, such as red, brown, blue, yellow, orange, pink, or green. Some topazes exhibit cat’s eye effects, especially those that are blue and yellow-orange. The amount of naturally coloured topaz stones does not meet the demand of jewellers, so a large portion of topazes are created through various processes in laboratories. We distinguish between idiochromatic and allochromatic origins. Idiochromatic means the colour of topazes depends on the internal structure of the pure substance, whereas allochromatic means the presence of foreign substances. Blue, brown, and yellow topazes belong to the first type, while pink and red topazes belong to the second. Different types of topazes have their trade and common names. Types of topazes:
- Imperial Topaz – it occurs in yellow, yellow-brown colour, and it may also have a red colour if the stone is pleochroic.
- Sherry Topaz – it has a brownish-yellow colour.
- Mystic Topaz – rainbow, multicoloured, characterized by opalescent lustre in yellow, pink, red, green, blue, and purple colours.
- Champagne Topaz – it has a brown colour.
- Sky Blue Topaz – light blue, as blue as the sky.
- Swiss Blue Topaz – also called Swiss blue, it is medium blue.
- London Blue Topaz – dark blue.
In our online store, you will find both cabochon topaz and faceted topaz in various shapes.
