Gemipedia - A to Z


Multi-Color Variety | Topaz

While you can find a different gemstone that perfectly conveys each color of the rainbow, topaz is one of the very few whose color variations span the entirety of the visible spectrum. Blues, greens, purples, oranges, and even multi-colored examples of topaz can be found. A perfect, blank canvas for the possibilities of modern treatments, the blue and “mystic” treated varieties have become a staple in mass production lines for many years. While this exposure to the population has created household recognition of the stone, very few are savvy to the rare beauty of the colors that natural, untreated topaz holds. The depth of natural pinks can liken to magenta, its pleochroic reds can fire with oranges and peach, and its yellows often portray the rich soul of sunlight.


The hue of topaz differs with included trace elements or crystal structure abnormalities. A silicate mineral (Al2SiO4(F,OH)2), topaz's red hues spring from chromium, while color centers create blues, yellows, and browns. Topaz's orthorhombic crystal system makes it ideal for cutting into long, rectangular shapes. A gem with perfect cleavage, it takes a skilled hand to orient and craft the cut of a topaz. When untreated crystals are cut expertly, “imperial” topaz's striking reddish qualities and “precious” topaz's honey yellows shine unmistakably.


Topaz has been cherished since ancient times, when its name was supposedly carried from the Greek island of Topazios (Zabargad). Up until the 1950's, topaz was known globally as a yellow gemstone and was linked to fire and the sun in poetry and detailed readings. Typically found across the globe in the fractures and cavities of igneous rocks, topaz is mined today in Brazil, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Africa and China. The originally named “imperial” topaz was titled as such after the discovery of topaz in nineteenth century Russia, while today a new source of pink crystals has emerged in Pakistan.


Topaz holds an 8.0 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, allowing it to hold scratch-resistant properties. Its perfect cleavage makes it susceptible to damage when met with a sudden strike, making it ideal for use in pendants and earrings. Topaz is the birthstone of November babies, while the zodiac signs of Sagittarius, Leo, and Scorpio associate with the gem. Spanning time, different cultures have identified topaz as a superior talisman stone, believing it would either bring protection to one's self, allow concentration, sharpen one's wit, bring good fortune, or even heal.


Hardness :


RI :

1.619 to 1.627

SG :


Gem DNA :


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