Topaz
Mythic blue
FOUND IN
Russia, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Czech Republic, Germany, Norway, Pakistan, Italy, Sweden, Japan, Brazil, Mexico; Flinders Island, Australia; Nigeria and the United States.
COLOUR
Colourless (if no impurities), white, blue, brown, orange, grey, yellow, yellowish brown, green, pink and reddish pink, red
HARDNESS
8
In antiquity, all yellow and brown gemstones and even some green ones, were called ‘topaz’. The most common colour is yellow, the most valuable colour is pink. Much colourless topaz is irradiated and heat-treated to a range of blues, some almost indistinguishable from the more valuable aquamarine. Topaz is a hard gemstone and the faceted stones are popular for use in rings, pendants and earrings. Topaz, in all its many colours is the birthstone for November.
