The old Sanskrit word tapas, meaning fire, is the root word from which the modern name topaz is derived. In Sri Lanka the gentlemen wore topaz engraved with the figure of a falcon to ensure the goodwill of kings and princes.
Egyptians and Romans acquired topaz from Sri Lanka with the belief that the gem would strengthen the mind; prevent mental disorders and sudden death. A cure for madness, topaz was considered to increase one’s wisdom and a coolant for excessive anger. An ancient Roman prescription for eye ailments instructed the patient to immerse a topaz in wine for three days and three nights followed by applying the gem to the afflicted eye.
One of the earliest known European sources for topaz was Saxon, Germany. During the middle ages topaz was primarily worn by royalty and used in ecclesiastical jewelry. Topaz and diamond jewelry became very poplar with the Spanish and French women in the eighteenth century, especially worn in earrings and rings. In the nineteenth century, pink topaz set with amethyst became fashionable during the Victorian era and was frequently combined with pearls. Later on, yellow, brown and orange topaz, cut in geometric shapes were set in jewelry during the Art Deco period.
Egyptians and Romans acquired topaz from Sri Lanka with the belief that the gem would strengthen the mind; prevent mental disorders and sudden death. A cure for madness, topaz was considered to increase one’s wisdom and a coolant for excessive anger. An ancient Roman prescription for eye ailments instructed the patient to immerse a topaz in wine for three days and three nights followed by applying the gem to the afflicted eye.
One of the earliest known European sources for topaz was Saxon, Germany. During the middle ages topaz was primarily worn by royalty and used in ecclesiastical jewelry. Topaz and diamond jewelry became very poplar with the Spanish and French women in the eighteenth century, especially worn in earrings and rings. In the nineteenth century, pink topaz set with amethyst became fashionable during the Victorian era and was frequently combined with pearls. Later on, yellow, brown and orange topaz, cut in geometric shapes were set in jewelry during the Art Deco period.
Natural topaz crystals are found in the cavities in granite or rhyolite rock composed of silicate aluminum containing fluorine and hydroxyl.
The crystals typically form prisms with a diamond shaped cross section and a pyramidal top. Gem quality topaz is mostly found in pegmatite dykes where the crystals can grow to a huge size, the world record is at 597 lbs. One of the largest, transparent topaz crystal found to date is from Minas Gerais, Brazil and is currently on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.So why are yellowish to brown gemstones referred to as topaz when the word topaz is translated from fire–which is reddish orange? Quartz stones have been mistakenly identified as topaz since antiquity and it became a common term to designate yellow and brown stones as topazes. An easy identifying method, is to observe stronger color banding at both ends of a faceted topaz, other gems will not reflect this type of color separation.
The crystals typically form prisms with a diamond shaped cross section and a pyramidal top. Gem quality topaz is mostly found in pegmatite dykes where the crystals can grow to a huge size, the world record is at 597 lbs. One of the largest, transparent topaz crystal found to date is from Minas Gerais, Brazil and is currently on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.So why are yellowish to brown gemstones referred to as topaz when the word topaz is translated from fire–which is reddish orange? Quartz stones have been mistakenly identified as topaz since antiquity and it became a common term to designate yellow and brown stones as topazes. An easy identifying method, is to observe stronger color banding at both ends of a faceted topaz, other gems will not reflect this type of color separation.
Most yellow to golden quartz citrines and brown cairngorm quartz are sold as topaz, causing confusion about the gemstone topaz. Quartz topaz, smoky topaz, scotch topaz and madera topaz are misnomers and do not refer to the gemstone topaz.
Precious Topaz, the term reserved for a true gem topaz, is the color of peach champagne. The varieties that exhibit an intense golden to reddish orange colors are called Imperial Topaz and are mined exclusively in Brazil.Most topaz crystals are naturally colorless and transparent. Natural pale, grey- blue color is very rare and has not been found recently. Virtually all natural blue-green topaz, resembling an aquamarine, is mined in Russia and is one of the most rare of all colors. Deep blue and light blue topaz on the market today is irradiated clear topaz. The sherry colored topaz from Japan and the Ukraine will fade permanently to colorless when exposed to sunlight.
Red Topaz is one of the most rare natural gemstones colors and is extremely valuable. The largest faceted red topaz in the world is an oval brilliant cut, weighing 70.40 carats—a natural deep red from Brazil or the Soviet Union.
Red Topaz is one of the most rare natural gemstones colors and is extremely valuable. The largest faceted red topaz in the world is an oval brilliant cut, weighing 70.40 carats—a natural deep red from Brazil or the Soviet Union.
Pink topaz may resemble kunzite, morganite and pale pink tourmalines-however, pink topaz exhibits a more intense vivid pink luster and tone.
Although topaz is an 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, it will break easily at right angles to the length of the crystal if it has a knock or blow to the edge of the stone. Most topazes are cut into long oval or pear shapes because of the prismatic shape of the crystals; these types of cut will enhance the reflection and sparkle. Topazes need to be treated with care.
The “Artistic Luxury Exhibit” at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco featured one of my favorite topaz luxury objects—a perfectly formed large topaz vase. The Russian Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich gave this carved topaz vase, created from the House of Faberge, to Elizabeta Baletta, the prima ballerina at the Imperial MikhailovskyTheater in St. Petersburg, in 1900. The topaz is finely polished to a complete transparency resembling a warm golden brown glass and mounted on a hand wrought filigree golden base.
Janet Deleuse
Additional informationa and photo Credits:
National Gem Collection, The Smithsonian Institution,
Jeffry E. Post with photographs by Chip Clark, 1997
Gems, Their Sources, Descriptions and Identification,
Fifth Edition, R. Webster, Butterworth and Heinemanne 1962
Gems, Crystals, & Minerals,
Anna S, Sofianides, George E. Harlow
with photographs by Erica and Harold Van Pelt,
Simon and Schuster, New York 1990
Archeology Treasures
edited by Alberto Siliotti, VMB Publishers 2006
