Topaz
Topaz is a lustrous gem that comes in an exceptionally wide range of colours. The most genuine, precious and incredibly beautiful topaz is rare as well as expensive. Many people consider them to be a beautiful substitute to diamonds and sapphires given their vitreous lustre and excellent brilliance. The yellow topaz, once ruled the world, however, today it has given way to the blue topaz which has soared in popularity. The former is considered the birthstone for the month of November, whereas the latter is credited to be the birthstone for the month of December. Though not much is known about topaz, people are very much intrigued with the colourful world of topaz as it is endowed with some of the most common as well rare colours.
The word topaz comes from the Greek word ‘topazion’ which apparently originated from the Sanskrit word ‘tapas’ meaning, ‘fire’. It may have also been named after the Egyptian island of ‘topazos’, now known as the St Johns island. Over the years, the charming and dazzling gemstone has become a popular choice for fine jewellery. We have earrings, pendants, rings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, engagement rings, eternity rings and even bridal set rings studded with topaz. They look gorgeous beyond words and blends well with any type of settings, designs and metals.
‘AG & Sons’ deals with a bevy of jewelleries in topaz gemstone. We have an impressive collection of topaz jewelleries that are second to none. Our specialty lies in creating unique jewellery pieces with beautiful coloured gemstones. They are sure to augment the look of your dress and make you stand out from the crowd. Our collection comprises of earrings, rings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, engagement rings, eternity rings and bridal set rings in varied colours of topaz. Each of them has been designed keeping the latest trends in mind.
The History and Lore of Topaz
Topaz is popular today owing to the rich history, it is steeped in. The stone was highly revered by the Greeks and Romans. The people of the ancient Greeks believed that topaz ensured strength and even invisibility, in times of emergency. The Romans believed that the beautiful colour of topaz was due to the sun. The medieval period saw the discovery of a small wine-yellow Saxonian topaz which was mined at Schneckenstein in Erzgebirge Mountains in Saxony Germany. Several rulers were known to have worn topaz in jewellery. They were found mentioned in the Bible as a stone that protected New Jerusalem. The breastplate of High Priest Aaron contained topaz as one of the twelve stones.
The Egyptian believed it to be a symbol of Ra, the Sun God, who was presumably the giver of life. Topaz was highly respected in the Egyptian culture. Europe associated topaz with Apollo, a solar being. In fact, many European countries, associated the colour of topaz with solar energy. During the Renaissance period in Europe, topaz was thought to break magic spells and dismiss anger. St. Hildegard believed that topaz could cure dimness of vision. Ancient people believed that the stone improved the taste buds, deals with bad moods and calm them. The stone was also known to help the wearer embark on a journey of self-realization. Topaz’s availability was limited and hence, it was highly priced till the medieval times.
Throughout history, topaz mined, appeared in different colours. They were owned by the queens and kings who believed that they provide the wearer with knowledge and wisdom. In the year 1740, the Braganza diamond of 1, 680 carats was discovered in Brazil. It led to the notion that it was the largest diamond ever found. However, much later it was found that Braganza was a colourless topaz and not a diamond. The topaz was set in the Portuguese crown which is currently available in Dresden, Germany. The Braganza is not the largest topaz in the world. Displayed at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C., is a yellow topaz sized 23, 000 carats, the largest found till date.
Topaz is still revered by people and hence, we can see a huge collection of topaz jewelleries like rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, engagement rings, eternity rings and bridal set rings in designs that are intricate, beautiful as well as contemporary.
Formation of Topaz
A silicate mineral of aluminium and fluorine, topaz is formed by pneumatolytic processes. Its creation is the result of such elements as fluoride, aluminium, oxygen and silicon. Apart from these elements, there may also be trace elements that can help in the enhancement and creation of the topaz colour. It crystallises from the fluorine-bearing vapour during the last stages of solidification of igneous rocks. It takes birth mostly in volcanic cavities, in pegmatities and in alluvial deposits. They typically occur as a component of pegmatite dikes where the crystals appear huge in size. In addition, they are also formed in the cavities of schists, gneisses and rhyolite-a highly acid rocks. Concentration of topaz is also available in stream beds and in other alluvial deposits.
Topaz has fluorine as its most important constituents. There is about 20% fluorine in topaz. They may sometimes be replaced by hydroxyl (OH) ion. Both these materials are concentrated by the process of crystallization of other elements of a silica-rich magma. The optical and physical properties differ as per the proportions of fluorine and water present. Topaz is usually associated with tin deposits in volcanic cavities and with beryl, tourmaline, fluorite and apatite in pegmatites. Natural topaz is largely colourless, but may also have a pale blue colour. Some if not all topaz used in today’s jewelleries are heat treated and irradiated to unnaturally create the colour blue.
Apart from the fact that topaz is one of the hardest silicate minerals, it is also true that topaz produces some of the biggest crystals. They can be up to 3 feet long and can even weigh several hundred pounds. The beauty of topaz lies in its colour range. Thereby, an interesting mix of colours can be used to create jewelleries like rings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, earrings, engagement rings, eternity rings and even bridal set rings. They can be customized as per your choice of designs and colours. Bespoke topaz jewelleries are truly a beautiful creation meant to be exclusive in every way.
Sources of Topaz
Brazil is the largest producer of topaz. Deposits of topaz are also found in Australia, Myanmar, Germany, Mexico, Nigeria, Namibia, China, Afghanistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, USA and Ukraine. Ukraine and Brazil are the birthplace of some enormous topaz crystals. Topaz of natural light-blue are found in the UK and in Northern Ireland.
Topaz may be available in limited regions yet their popularity has spread far and wide. Today, topaz can be seen to feature in designer jewelleries like rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, eternity rings, engagement rings and bridal set rings.
Topaz Color and Properties
Topaz’s popularity lies in the colour range it is available. It is available in a spectrum of colours like orange, red-brown, yellow, in hues ranging from pink to red, light to dark-blue, light-green, violet. Due to its availability in a wide range of colours, it can be mistaken to be other gemstone. Pure topaz is colourless, however, impurities like iron and chromium can render it some colour. Pink to reddish orange or yellow is the rarest variety of topaz and are identified as ‘imperial topaz’ or even ‘precious topaz’. They are widely used in jewellery today. Topaz of violet and red are also extremely rare. A large variety of topaz is treated to enhance the colour.
A versatile material, topaz are available from transparent to translucent. Though it exhibits great clarity, the presence of few inclusions is pretty common. When examined with the naked eye, they appear ‘eye clean’. No imperfections can thereby be detected. Topaz is widely admired for its vitreous lustre and brilliance. For use in jewelleries like rings, bracelets, pendants, necklaces, earrings, engagement rings, eternity rings and bridal set rings, this versatile gemstone can be cut into a large variety of shapes like pear, heart, square, octagon, square, oval, round etc,. The facets reveal a lot about the clarity and brilliance of the gemstone.
As a gemstone, topaz is hard and durable. It measures 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Due to this hardness it is resistant to scratches. However, one can discern a perfect cleavage in them, which makes them prone to chipping. A single blow can split topaz into two. Another characteristic feature of topaz is that it is a pleochroic gemstone which means the intensity of the colour varies when viewed from different angles. Owing to the presence of cleavage and its pleochroic nature, topaz must be handled with care when faceting.
Healing Properties of Topaz
Topaz when worn as rings, earrings, bracelets, engagement rings, eternity rings, pendants, necklaces are known to bestow the wearer with numerous benefits. Blue topaz is known to better one’s ability to communicate. It is a stone that balances emotions, releases tensions and bring about joy in the life of the wearer. It is also known to bring good fortune, success and protection apart from ensuring spiritual love, peace and hope. They are known to bestow the wearer with good health, generosity, joy, good fortune, peace and creativity.
Topaz has numerous benefits for the physical well being of the wearer and possessor. They are known to help people suffering from poor appetite, hemorrhages, blood disorders, gout, tuberculosis etc. It is a great stone to dispel depression, stress, exhaustion, stomach anxiety, nervous system stress, worries, fears. It is an excellent stone to promote relaxation and comfort, minimize tension and calm the nervous system.
The Collection of Topaz at AG & Sons
AG & Sons are known for their colossal variety of gemstones. Under one roof, they make possible the availability of all types of gemstones and in their best quality. One can blindly trust AG & Sons for the finest quality gemstone like topaz. While we deal with loose gemstones, we also have jewelleries like rings, bracelets, pendants, necklaces, earrings, engagement rings, eternity rings and bridal set rings studded with topaz. In addition, we are a master in customisation and will be immensely glad to design your dream topaz jewelry.
