Interesting Facts

Long related to desire, the name Topaz is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit “tapas”, meaning heat, fire and passion OR the greek ”tapadzor” meaning to search. It is also the name of an island in the Red Sea that was always wrapped in fog, thus mysterious and difficult to find. Dating back to the ancient Egyptian empire, Topaz hit its first peak of popularity during the middle ages when people believed it had the power to strengthen the mind. Imperial Topaz is a rare gem type that comes from Brazil. It’s considered the most beautiful and mysterious amongst all Topazes and is widely believed to embody all the enchantment, magic and power of seduction of its sister stones.

Characterestics

Topaz comes in a variety of shapes, color and size. Its brilliance and clarity are its chief attractions. A hard stone, Topaz is very difficult to scratch. However, it may be brittle. Imperial Topaz occurs naturally in colors ranging from a light golden yellow to a deep reddish orange. some Imperial Topaz is treated by irradiation or heat to enhance its color. Red and intense pink are the rarest and describe color for Topaz. A gem with such color will command a relatively high price. Bright orange colored topaz, also known as Imperial topaz, falls into the moderate price and is easier to find. Blue topaz, having a low to moderate price range, is very popular, because a varity of shades, sizes and shapes are available.