Topaz
Blue Topaz
Hardness: 8 Mohs
Enhancement Code: Irradiation
Quality Information:
London Blue AA: Medium dark greyish blue; eye clean; good brilliance; good cut; good polish
Sky Blue AA: Bright light blue; eye clean; good brilliance; good cut; good polish
Swiss Blue AA: Medium to dark bright blue; eye clean: good brilliance; good cut; good polish
Care: Rated “good” for everyday wear. Avoid contact with chemicals. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.
Major Sources: Brazil
Blue is the colour of communication and self-expression. The clear, voluptuous colour of Blue Topaz certainly speaks for itself. From the pure pastel blue of an Alpine glacier to the glow of the mid-summer sky, to the aquatic hue of the deepest ocean, refreshing Blue Topaz brings a breath of fresh air to contemporary jewellery designs.
The ancients prized Topaz as a stone of divinity that could dispel enchantments, detect poisons — even render the wearer invisible at will. Today it is claimed as the state gemstone of Texas.
Blue Topaz rivals Aquamarine in colour and charm. Found in greater abundance, it offers superb clarity and luminous colour at a fraction of the cost.
Imperial Topaz
Hardness: 8 Mohs
Enhancement Code: Heat treated, coated
Quality Information:
Comes in a range from yellow, pink, red, lavender-pink and peach-pink topaz. Eye clean, good polish and good cut.
Care: Rated “good” for everyday wear. Avoid contact with chemicals. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.
Major Sources: Brasil, Russia, Pakistan
Imperial topaz is known as ‘precious topaz’, this is due to it being more rare. It can fall in the colour range between a yellowy orange to a slightly pinkish colour. The pink shade is the rarest of them all and can be quite expensive due to this. The name ‘Imperial Topaz’ comes from the Russian Tsars, when the pinkish stone was found in the Ural mountains they claimed the rights to use it.
White Topaz
Hardness: 8 Mohs
Enhancement Code: Natural
Quality Information:
SWAROVSKI GEMS™ White Fine: colourless; minimal eye-visible inclusions
SWAROVSKI GEMS™ AA: colourless; eye clean; good brilliance; good cut; good polish
Care: Rated “good” for everyday wear. Avoid contact with chemicals. To clean, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.
Major Sources: Australia, Brazil, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
The cool, calm pureness of White Topaz catches the eye as its inner fire flashes rainbow prisms. The natural magnificence of White Topaz is untreated and readily available in smaller sizes. While White Topaz itself is untreated, its beauty is the foundation for the varieties of treated Topaz available in the market. With a high refractive index and capable of taking a high polish, white topaz is often a sensible substitue for diamonds and a practical choice as the birthstone for April.