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Topaz Information: Buying Guide

November 11, 2024

Topaz Gemstone is a very popular gemstone, in this buying guide we talk about topaz meaning, different colors, prices, clarity, where is found, general description, properties, etc. Discover more information about this beautiful gemstone that is the Birthstone for November.

The etymologic history of the word topaz is uncertain.

The Roman writer Pliny suggested in the first century AD that the name derived from the Greek word “Topazos" an island in the Red Sea.

Another theory is that the name derives from the Sanskrit word "pita" meaning fire, referring to the yellow color of some topaz.

Contents

Topaz Color
Price of Topaz
Cut and Sizes of Topaz
Topaz Clarity
Where is Topaz Found, genesis and origin
November Birthstone, Topaz
Enhancements and Synthesis
General Description Physical and Optical Properties of Topaz

TOPAZ COLOR

The most common color of the topaz is colorless and brown, not blue. The color blue, mostly, is caused by treatment.

On the nature found colorless (white), brown, blue, yellow, orange, pink, purple and red topaz.

Topaz is allochromatic, its color is caused by impurity elements or color centers (crystallographic defects).

Colorless Topaz or White Topaz

Blue or Green Topaz – Color centers

Yellow or Brown Topaz – Color centers

Pink or Red Topaz colored by Cr

Orange Topaz colored by Cr and color center

PRICE OF TOPAZ

The most expensive color topaz are rich Pink or Red Topaz, followed by rich Orange Topaz. These vivid colors (red, pink, and orange) can cost excess of $1500/ct in contrast with the blue topaz (commonly treated) that is available by not more of $60/ct. Blue Topaz is affordable gemstone.

White or Colorless Topaz is an affordable gemstone. It's ideal for jewelry, its hardness (8 Mohs Scale), transparency, brilliance and its low price, make this white gemstone an affordable choice for your jewels.

CUT & SIZES OF TOPAZ

Due to the prismatic habit of the crystals, topaz is often cut into elongated shapes (rectangular, emerald, oval, pear, teardrop).

Blue topaz is cut into any style and size.

Blue Topaz is available in large sizes, however Red and Pink Topaz are common small sizes.

blue topaz fancy cut

TOPAZ CLARITY

Topaz will show eye-clean inclusion, except Red and Pink Topaz will show more inclusions.

Rare white topaz with amazing inclusions

Typical inclusions

Biphasic and Triphasic inclusions with immiscible liquids, veils, fingerprints or feathers. Solid inclusions (hematite, fluorite, etc). Solid inclusions finished “comet tail”. Needle-like rutile inclusion. Straight lines of growth.

Biphasic Inclusions in topaz

Biphasic inclusion

WHERE IS TOPAZ FOUND - GENESIS & ORIGIN

Genesis

Topaz occurs most commonly in pegmatites, granites and rhyolites (igneous rocks). Also it is found in secondary deposits (alluvial).

Topaz is found

Afghanistan, Brazil (Ouro Preto–Minas Gerais), Burma (Myanmar), Canada, China, Kazakhastan, India, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Ukraine, USA, Vietnam, Zimbabwe…

NOVEMBER BIRTHSTONES TOPAZ

Topaz and Citrine are the birthstones for November. The Blue Topaz is the gem gifted for 4th wedding anniversaries, and the Imperial Topaz is gifted for those celebrating their 23rd anniversary.

More information about Birthstones.

Topaz Lore & Legend

Make us stronger, restore the soul, dispel anger, break spells, remove insomnia, longer life, are some of the legends that have been attributed to the topaz for centuries.

blue topaz gems

ENHANCEMENTS AND SYNTHESIS

Enhancements

Irradiation + heat treatment: Colorless topaz is irradiated, brown topaz are obtained. This brown topaz is subjected to a thermal treatment that removes the brown component, obtaining blue topaz. This blue color is stable to light.

Irradiation: Colorless topaz is irradiated turning it brown topaz, the color is unstable (exposure to sunlight).

Heat Treatment: Orange-brown topaz is treated to turning it Pink - Purple Topaz. (Natural pink topaz is rare)

Coating: It consists of a thin layer deposition (microns) on the topaz. This deposition may be a dye to impart color or change its color.

Also can be the deposition of a metallic material so that we get an iridescent topaz.

This topaz is known by the name "Mystic Topaz" - "Rainbow Topaz". This thin layer is delicate, is easily scratched. Coating is not permanent.

Synthesis

Non-commercial

Imitations

Citrine, Smoky Quarz, Glass

GENERAL DESCRIPTION PHYSICAL & OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF TOPAZ

Solid inclusions

Solid inclusions with comet tail in orange topaz

Solid inclusions with "comet tail"

Inclusions in peach orange topaz, detachment zone probably due to internal tensions

Detachment zone probably due
to internal tensions.

NESOSILICATES

Aluminium silicate that contains fluorine and hydroxyl. Al2 (F,OH)2 SiO4

Crystal system: Orthorhombic.
Habit: Combinations of rhombic prisms ( 4 sides) + rhombic dipyramids (8 sides) (sometimes + pinacoidal). It is very typical basal cleavage. Sometimes topaz prisms have vertical streaks.
Hardness (Mohs): 8
Fracture: Conchoidal, Irregular.
Transparency: Transparent, translucent.
Streak: White.
Lustre: Vitreous
Cleavage: Perfect
Dispersion: 0,014
Density: 3.49 – 3.57 g/cm3
Optic nature: Biaxial positive
Refractive index: 1.606 – 1.644
Birefringence: 0.008 to 0.011
Pleochroism: Weak to Moderate
Fluorescence: Mostly inert or weak.
Absorption spectrum: Not generally observable

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Topaz Information: Buying Guide

TOPAZ COLOR

PRICE OF TOPAZ

CUT & SIZES OF TOPAZ

TOPAZ CLARITY

Typical inclusions

WHERE IS TOPAZ FOUND - GENESIS & ORIGIN

Genesis

Topaz is found

NOVEMBER BIRTHSTONES TOPAZ

Topaz Lore & Legend

ENHANCEMENTS AND SYNTHESIS

Enhancements

Synthesis

Imitations

GENERAL DESCRIPTION PHYSICAL & OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF TOPAZ

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