Learn About Topaz
Wear a topaz and it could make you invisible in times of emergency. Farfetched? Well, that's what the Ancient Greeks believed!
Topaz
- Silicate
- 8 Mohs
-
Scorpio Sagittarius
- Love, Loyalty
- November Birthstone
Round
Cushion
Oval
Round
Cushion
OvalOverview
Colorless or brown in its purest form, the topaz is a stunning gem that occurs naturally in many gorgeous shades, but rarely in purple, pink and deep blue. Rarer versions of this gem have been allotted trade names like imperial topaz and sherry topaz.
Topaz has been around for centuries and has garnered attention for its many remarkable qualities. This gem was used in the Middle East for adornment, over 2000 years ago.
According to the Bible, topaz was one of the 12 stones used to build the foundation of the walls of the New Jerusalem (heaven).
1. Key Origin
- Natural blue topaz is predominantly produced in Texas, USA and the Ural Mountains, Russia.
- Silver topaz, can be found in Sri Lanka, Nigeria and China.
- Extremely rare pink topaz is mined in Russia and the Katlang area of Pakistan.
2. Associations
- It was revered as the stone of truth and forgiveness.
- Sources claim that the name originated from the Sanskrit word tapas, which means fire.
- Egyptians believed that this gem derived its golden glow from the powerful Sun God “Ra”
Properties
Rated 8 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness
01Hardness & Strength
Topaz scores an 8 on Mohs scale, which makes it a hard and durable stone that’s perfect for everyday wear. However, as with all gems, a topaz too must be protected from hard impacts.
At the cutting stage, the perfect cleavage of this stone can present a challenge. But usually, cutters orient the table of the stone 5-10% off the cleavage plane. This results in a considerably stable stone that’s suitable for a variety of jewelry, such as rings, pendants and earrings.
02Treatment
Most of the naturally available topaz stones begin their journey as crystals that are colorless, dull and sometimes very lightly tinted. The advancement in technology has resulted in various techniques that are now utilized to enhance the color and luster of this gemstone.
Heat: This is a widely practiced treatment that has been used for centuries to dramatically change the color of a topaz. Almost 95% of all scintillating blue topaz stones are actually colorless, but heat treatment carried out at around 200 degree Celsius causes them to change their color.
Irradiation: This process is similar to heat treatment and involves exposing the topaz to an artificial source of radiation. Irradiation could be followed up with heat to further modify the color.
Know About Other Gems
Swiss Blue Topaz
"Wear a topaz and it could make you invisible in times of emergency. Farfetched? Well, that's what the Ancient Greeks believed!”
- Silicate
- Yellow, Orange, Brown
- 8 Mohs
- Scorpio Sagittarius
- Love, Loyalty
- November
- Round
Cushion
Oval
Know About Other Gems
Garnet
Don't garnets remind you of pomegranate seeds? Well, turns out their name actually comes from a Latin word that means pomegranate!
- Silicate
- Primarily red
- 6.5 to 7.5 Mohs
-
Capricorn Aquarius
- Love, Friendship, Passion
- January
Amethyst
Amethyst is love in a gem! St. Valentine too is believed to have worn an amethyst ring with Cupid’s image.
- Quartz
- Purple, Pale lilac, Deep reddish purple
- 7 Mohs
-
Aquarius Pisces
- Wisdom, Peace, Good fortune
- February
Opal
Ancient legends suggest opals fell from the heavens in flashes of lightning. That probably explains why this gem is so magical!
- Hydrated Silica
- All colors
- 5 to 6.5 Mohs
-
Libra Scorpio
- Hope, Purity, Truth
- October
Aquamarine
From its hue to its name, everything about aquamarine swirls around water. No wonder the mermaids called it their own!
- Beryl
- Pale blue, Greenish blue, Pastel blue
- 7.5 to 8 Mohs
-
Aries Pisces
- Serenity, Clarity, Harmony
- March
Ruby
Did you know ruby and sapphire are cousins? They come from the same mineral family, which is corundum!
- Corundum
- Red
- 9 Mohs
-
Cancer Leo
- Love, Power, Passion
- July
Rhodolite
Rhodolite gets its name from the Greek word ‘rhodon’ which means ‘rose.’ Such an apt name for this pretty stone!
- Garnet group of minerals
- Rose pink - deep purple
- 7 to 7.5 Mohs
- Positivity
Tanzanite
Though a new discovery, tanzanites could quickly become extinct! It's because they're mined in only one place on Earth.
- Zoisite
- Violet purple, Bluish violet
- 6 to 7 Mohs
-
Sagittarius Capricorn
- Abundance, New beginnings
- December
Onyx
Many cultures believed onyx could absorb negativity. In fact, the more negativity it absorbed, the darker it became!
- Silicate
- Primarily black
- 6.5 to 7 Mohs
- Courage, Power, Good fortune
Sapphire
The most obsessed-over sapphire in the world is the 12-carat stunner on Princess Diana’s legendary engagement ring.
- Corundum
- Every color but red
- 9 Mohs
-
Libra Virgo
- Truth, Sincerity, Loyalty
- September
Emerald
Cleopatra was crazy about emeralds! She even took over a few Greek mines, hoping to keep all the jewels for herself.
- Beryl
- Green, Bluish green, Deep green
- 7.5 to 8 Mohs
-
Taurus Gemini
- Good fortune, Balance, Growth
- May
Tsavorite
Tsavorites may look like emeralds, but in reality, they are roughly 200 times rarer than emeralds.
- Garnet group of minerals
- Green
- 6.5 to 7.5 Mohs
- Strength, Vitality, Positivity
Rose Quartz
Rose quartz isn't just a pretty gem. It's believed to attract love and bring in peace and tenderness to your life.
- Quartz
- Shades of pink
- 7 Mohs
- Love, Harmony
Peridot
Unlike most gemstones that come in different colors, peridot is found only in olive green. It's a special gem, for sure!
- Olivine
- Yellowish green, Deep dark olive, Yellow-green
- 6.5 to 7 Mohs
-
Leo Virgo
- Prosperity, Good fortune
- August
Turquoise
Would you believe us if we told you that the gorgeous turquoise is one of the oldest gemstones in the world?
- Turquoise
- Blue, Greenish blue
- 5 to 6 Mohs
-
Sagittarius Capricorn
- Positivity, Happiness
- December
Citrine
In the middle ages, citrine was also called the ‘merchant's stone’ as it was believed to bring success and prosperity.
- Quartz
- Yellow-orange, Pale yellow
- 7 Mohs
-
Scorpio Sagittarius
- Positivity, Optimism
- November
Tourmaline
Self-love is the best kind of love and tourmaline is considered to be the best gem to help you in this journey.
- Silicate
- All colors
- 7 to 7.5 Mohs
-
Libra Scorpio
- Friendship, Compassion
- October
Morganite
Morganites were named after J.P. Morgan, who wasn't just a genius in all things finance, but a gem enthusiast too.
- Beryl
- Pale pink, Peach
- 7.5 to 8 Mohs
- Romance, Love, Harmony
Moonstone
Moonstone was declared the state gem of Florida in 1970 to honor NASA’s lunar landing and the Kennedy Space Center.
- Feldspar
- Colorless, White
- 6 to 6.5 Mohs
-
Gemini Cancer
- Good fortune, Luck
- June
The 4C’s
Topaz, especially the blue colored, is one of the most popular semi-precious gemstones available in the market. The quality of this alluring gemstone is determined by several factors:
- Color
- Carat
- Clarity
- Cuts
01Color
- This gem is available in a variety of colors, however pure topaz is colorless and included.
- A good quality cut and industrial treatments are often utilized to give most topaz stones a deeper and brighter hue.
- Imperial topaz is the most costly variety of naturally occurring topaz stones.
02Carat
- Choose a stone that scores high on all of these parameters and not only on carat weight.
- The value of a precious topaz witnesses an exponential jump when the stone is larger than 10 carats.
- Topaz is widely considered as an affordable gem that adapts well to almost any type of jewelry.
03Clarity
- A faceted blue topaz is generally free from eye-visible inclusions.
- Inclusions will not have a significant impact on the price of a topaz if it features a rare color.
- Visible inclusions on a common colored topaz will dramatically reduce its value and price.
04Cuts
- Topaz stones display perfect cleavage which helps them sparkle brilliantly, provided they are well cut.
- Topaz is available in a variety of shapes, with emerald and cushion being the most popular.
- Common cuts for this gemstone include pear, triangular, marquise and oval.
Quality & Grading
Taking into consideration the various properties of a topaz, it can be segregated into the following categories of quality:
| Gem Quality | Color | Clarity | Brilliance | Rareness | Shop Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heirloom (AAAA) | Swiss Blue | Eye Clean | Very High | Top 1% |
Solitaire Cushion Swiss Blue Topaz Criss Cross Ring with Diamonds$1309 |
| Best (AAA) | Light Swiss Blue | Eye Clean | High | Top 10% |
Classic Swiss Blue Topaz Linear Tennis Bracelet$609 |
| Better (AA) | Sky Blue | Slightly Included | Medium | Top 33% |
Prong-Set Swiss Blue Topaz Teardrop V-Bale Pendant with Diamond$419 |
| Good (A) | Light Sky Blue | Slightly Included | Low | Top 75% |
V-Bale Pear-Shaped Swiss Blue Topaz Solitaire Pendant$169 |
Latest Pick from Swiss+blue+topaz Jewelry
Rings
Earrings
Bracelets
Necklaces
Solitaire Cushion Swiss Blue Topaz Criss Cross Ring with Diamonds
$1309
Solitaire Heart Swiss Blue Topaz Bypass Ring with Diamonds
$1059
Swiss Blue Topaz and Diamond Twisted Vine Ring
$2879
Bar-Set Solitaire Round Swiss Blue Topaz Bypass Ring
$979
Solitaire Round Swiss Blue Topaz Celtic Knot Ring
$1249
Care Instructions
Topaz is a brilliant gemstone with a good level of hardness, but its perfect cleavage (often reduced with a good cut) can make it susceptible to surface cracks when struck hard. Keep these simple measures in mind to ensure that your blue topaz jewelry lasts a lifetime.
FAQs
1. What factors determine the quality of a Swiss blue topaz?
The quality of a Swiss blue topaz is determined by its vibrant, medium to intense blue color, eye-clean clarity and precise cut that enhances brilliance. Larger stones with consistent color and clarity are more valuable. Most Swiss blue topaz is irradiated to achieve its striking hue, a treatment that is stable and widely accepted in the gem industry.
2.Can Swiss blue topaz be treated or enhanced?
Yes, Swiss blue topaz is often treated with heat to enhance its color. But don’t worry, it’s still a natural gem, just with a little extra TLC to bring out that stunning blue.
3. Is Swiss blue topaz durable enough for everyday wear?
Absolutely! With a hardness rating of 8 on the Mohs scale, Swiss blue topaz is tough enough to handle daily wear without losing its charm, though it’s best to avoid harsh knocks.
4. Is there any symbolism associated with Swiss blue topaz?
Yes! The enchanting Swiss blue topaz symbolizes love and loyalty and is also said to bring a sense of peace to the wearer.
5. What other gemstones pair well with Swiss blue topaz?
Swiss blue topaz pairs beautifully with diamonds, white sapphires or even softer gemstones such as morganite. Their contrasting colors really make the blue pop!
6. Can Swiss blue topaz fade over time?
Yes, Swiss blue topaz can fade over time if exposed to prolonged direct sunlight or intense heat. To maintain its vibrant color, it’s best to store it away from direct light when not being worn and avoid exposing it to harsh conditions. With proper care, its brilliant blue hue can last for years.
