Topaz

Topaz is the birthstone for November, representing friendship and hope. It is also known as topaz or topaz crystal in mineralogy, and is a fluorine-containing aluminum silicate mineral.

Topaz is highly transparent and hard, so it has a good reflective effect, and its beautiful color makes it quite popular. In the seventeenth century, for example, the Braganza Diamond (1,640 carats), which was once considered the largest diamond in the Portuguese Crown Jewels, has been confirmed to be a colorless topaz.

[Origin].

Topaz is mainly found in Brazil, Mexico, Saxony, Scotland and Japan. In addition, Sri Lanka, the United States, Myanmar, the Ural Mountains, Australia and other countries also have gem grade topaz output.

China's topaz is produced in Inner Mongolia, Jiangxi and Xinjiang.

[color].

①Sherry

The most important varieties of topaz, including yellow and brown dominant color topaz, orange and orange-red with brown components, light orange-yellow and golden yellow. The most expensive is the orange-yellow topaz, which is called the "Emperor's" stone.

②Blue

Including sky blue (bright blue), London blue (bright dark blue) and Swiss blue (light blue).

③Pink

Refers to pink, light red to light fuchsia or violet colored topaz. It is mainly made from yellow and brown topaz by irradiation and heat treatment.

④Colorless

In the past, it was used as a substitute for diamonds, and was once called "slave diamonds". Nowadays, it is mostly used as a raw material for color-changing stones, and is seldom used directly as a faceted piece.

[Value]

The most valuable topazes are red and sherry, followed by brown and blue. Yellow topaz is close in appearance to the inexpensive yellow crystal and can be easily confused. Therefore it is not very expensive.

Blue topaz, as a flat substitute for aquamarine, is not very expensive. The price is usually around a few hundred for a silverwork setting and a small thousand for an 18k gold setting.

Of course, the price also depends on the size of the stone and the tediousness or otherwise of the setting process.

In addition to its decorative value, because the main color of Topaz, yellow, symbolizes peace and friendship in Western culture, yellow Topaz is used as the birthstone for November to express people's desire for long-term friendly relations.