The ancient Greeks believed that topaz gave them strength. In Europe during the Renaissance (the period from the 1300s to the 1600s) people thought that topaz could break magic spells and dispel anger. For centuries, many people in India have believed that topaz worn above the heart assures long life, beauty, and intelligence. (http://www.gia.edu/topaz-history-lore)
“Blaze”
Imperial topaz and diamonds set in rose gold pendant
97.5-carat topaz
Designed by Lester Lampert of Lester Lampert, Inc.
The Imperial topaz in this pendant is 97.45 carats—the largest owned by any museum in the world.
The name supposedly refers to a tradition in the Ural Mountains of Russia, where shades of pink, orange, and red topaz (the rarest) were reserved for the family of the Czar.
Many consumers are not aware that a blue topaz is caused by treatment. Blue is not its natural color. Also, topaz has many colors, which includes pink and purples that rival the finest fancy sapphires. Fancy sapphires have a mixture of colors that are not often found in a jewelry store.
During treatment at the atomic level the topaz crystal can cause a change in colors. It can be yellow, brown, and blue. Brown is usually a common color for topaz and some people called it a smoky quartz. Although, blue appeals to the eyes the color is done by treatments because it’s a colorless topaz. There are plenty of colorless topazs that has the blue color.
Mostly all gems have hue names, such as blue topaz, pink topaz, and so on but there are special trade names too.Topaz is pleochroic, meaning that the gem can show different colors in different crystal directions. If you hold the gem in a viewing direction you may see many different colors. It may vary according to the lighting or the light of day.
Few people outside the gem industry realize the true nature of a gemstone’s journey from the mine to the counter of a store. Whether the gem is being offered to consumer’s at a traditional jewelry store’s counter, an internet shopping site, or a television broadcast the journey always involves a great deal of effort. Tons of earth and countless hours of labor are needed to being a gem from mine to market. (http://www.gia.edu/topaz-journey)
Blue topaz is the birthstone for December. Blue topaz is the gem for the 4th Wedding anniversary.