Topaz is one of the most popular gems and belongs to the 2nd category of semiprecious minerals. The first information about topaz appeared 3 thousand years ago, but there is still no exact version of the origin of the name of the stone. It is often associated by analogy with the Sanskrit "tapas", which translates as "heat" or "fire".
At the same time, there is a hypothesis that for the first time, the mineral was found by sailors, whose ship was thrown by fate to the island of Topazon (now Zebirget) in the Red Sea, near Ethiopia. Having collected jewelry, the travelers not only successfully returned home but also became quite rich. Since then, seafarers have used the stone as a talisman.
Description of topaz stone:
Color:
The color scale of the mineral is simply striking in its variety. There are colorless, red, reddish-purple, pink, blue, bluish-green, orange, yellow, and even multi-colored stones in nature.
Place of mining:
The main deposit is situated in Brazil. Also, minerals are found in Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Pakistan, Australia, the USA, Japan, Urals, Germany, and Namibia.
Price:
These gems are priced at $40-100 per carat. Mostly the rarest pink-orange topaz "Imperial" is very expensive - from $500 per carat.
This mineral has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, which is almost comparable to a diamond with 10 points! On the Mohs scale, it gains eight units. This property of the stone significantly complicates the work of jewelers, but after the jewelry processing, topaz stones acquire amazing beauty and dazzling shine.
Also, topazes have:
Cleavage in one direction.
Rhombic system.
A high degree of transparency.
Highly resistant to acids.
Poor colorfastness:
Unfortunately, under the influence of bright light and high temperatures, topaz loses its color with time.
Strong glassy luster:
On the cleavage planes, they are nacreous.
The ability to become electrified by friction, compression, and a sharp rise in temperature.
How to tell a fake topaz from a real one?
Sapphires or rubies, which were obtained synthetically, are often used as counterfeit topaz. They can have similar physical and chemical properties. It can also be fakes made of glass and quartz or refined specimens of cheaper gems. Therefore, before buying, it is essential to know how to distinguish a real topaz stone from a fake one.
To distinguish a true topaz stone, jewelers recommend:
Hold the stone in the palm of your hand. Under the influence of the heat of the human body, the glass counterfeit will immediately heat up. At the same time, natural stone with low thermal conductivity will remain at ambient temperatures for a long time.
Pay attention to the color of the gems. Cut stones are always painted in soft, pastel colors. Too saturated, bright colors inherent in artificially refined specimens.
Rub a topaz with a piece of wool. A natural gem, electrified, will begin to cause static to hair or paper.
Examine the cut gem with a magnifying glass. In the depths of natural topaz, there will certainly be defects: air bubbles or small cracks. A perfectly smooth texture indicates a fake.
Dip the stone into the usual water. All true gems of this type are of high density. This is one of the few stones that will sink if submerged in water.
Gem Lovers guarantees the natural origin of all stones presented in the catalog on our website. Each stone is carefully checked and quality controlled by our gemologists. Therefore, be sure that by purchasing topaz on our website, you will receive only the original.
We are ready to tell you in more detail about the features of each stone (color, clarity, etc.) by phone or in a letter. Upon your request, we can also send additional photos and videos of the stone taken under different lighting conditions. You can also order any topaz jewelry, like rings, pendants, necklaces, and so on. We take responsibility for its safety during operation.
