Topaz is a popular and versatile silicate mineral known for its hardness, clarity, and wide range of colours. It also occurs in a wide range of natural and treated colours, each with unique characteristics and trade names.
1. Colourless Topaz ("White Topaz")
2. Blue Topaz
3. Imperial Topaz
4. Golden or Yellow Topaz
5. Pink Topaz
6. Mystic Topaz
7. Brown and Champagne Topaz
OCCURRENCE & SOURCES:
Brazil - Minas Gerais (pegmatites and hydrothermal), Russia - Ural Mountains (in granite veins), United States - Topaz Mountain (Utah), Thomas Range (rhyolite), Ceylon and Burma
It is prized for its rich golden to reddish-orange hues and exceptional clarity. This gem is often associated with royalty, hence the name "Imperial."
Colour Range
--> Golden yellow
--> Rich orange
--> Pinkish-orange to reddish-orange (most prized)
--> The vibrant hues are natural or may be lightly heat-treated to enhance existing color.
--> The most valuable Imperial Topaz stones are reddish-orange to pinkish-orange and come from Brazil.
Blue Topaz is one of the most popular and affordable blue gemstones, loved for its vivid colour, brilliance, and durability. While naturally pale blue topaz does exist, most commercial blue topaz is treated to achieve its stunning hues.
Colour Varieties of Blue Topaz:
Blue topaz comes in three main shades, produced through irradiation and heat treatment of colourless or pale topaz
Sky Blue --> Light, delicate baby blue
Swiss Blue --> Bright, vibrant medium blue
London Blue --> Deep, inky or steely blue (most valuable)
Treatment & Safety:
Blue topaz is typically irradiated to produce its blue colour and then heat-treated to stabilize the hue.
The gem is safe for wear after the radiation has decayed to harmless levels (regulated internationally).
Mystic Topaz is natural colourless topaz that has been enhanced with a thin coating of titanium or similar materials, producing a mesmerizing rainbow-like iridescence. It’s not a naturally occurring variety but a treated gem that’s popular for its striking visual effect.
Colour Effect:
The gemstone exhibits a play of colours across the surface due to thin-film interference, similar to how oil on water shimmers.
The effect can change depending on angle and lighting, giving it a "magical" or "mystic" appearance.
Important Notes:
Mystic Topaz is not a naturally colored stone.
It is not recognized as a separate variety by gemological authorities but is widely accepted in commercial jewelry.
It is affordable and widely available, making it a favorite for statement pieces.
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