Topaz : History, Origins, Properties and Virtues of the Gemstone

Topaz is a popular gemstone that has been known for thousands of years. The origin of the name Topaz is to this day uncertain, but some believe that its name comes from the Greek word "topazos", the name of an island in the Red Sea, now called Zabargad. Topaz has a wide range of colors, from yellowish brown to gold, but also has pink, blue, orange, etc... But did you know that in reality, the color of topaz is almost never natural, but often obtained through treatment

Topaz has a pleochroic character, which means that it can change hues depending on the viewing angle. For a long time, many types of yellow gemstones were called topaz. It was not until 1609, that Anselm Boethius of Boodt defined in detail the characteristics of the Topaz that is attributed today

Types of Topaz

Topaz can be found in the whole world, mainly in the volcanic zones and the mines. There are many types of topaz, each with its own variety of colors and crystal formations. Each type of topaz has unique properties and characteristics.

White topaz: Colorless topaz, the most common in nature.

Blue topaz: The two most famous types of blue topaz are "London blue" topaz (dark blue) and "Swiss blue" topaz (sky blue) often confused with aquamarine

Imperial Topaz: Natural topaz with peach to orange hues. Named after the Russian czars, who claimed the rights to these pink stones mined in Russia.

Precious topaz: Topaz of yellow, pink, orange or red color.

Composition and Origin of Topaz

Topaz is one of the most common minerals on Earth. Topaz can be found in both igneous and metamorphic rock formations. It is found in many parts of the world, but is most abundant in Brazil, Sri Lanka and China. In these countries, it is very often found in its yellowish-brown or golden-yellow color. Topaz can be yellow, pink, orange, blue and/or colorless. The orange and yellow varieties of topaz are more common than the pink and blue. Very often pink and blue topaz are not natural, but are in fact colorless topaz that have been exposed to high temperatures and/or irradiation (treatments accepted in gemology).

The chemical composition of Topaz is known as Aluminum Fluosilicate, Al2(SiO4) (F, OH₎₂. In addition, depending on the variety of Topaz, it may also contain chromium, iron, magnesium and titanium. It is one of the few minerals found in both minerals and rocks.

Topaz is a stone with a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale, comparable to spinel or aquamarine. Topaz is a stone highly valued for its strength, durability and ability to resist scratching.

Topaz Virtues

In Egypt, Topaz and was worn as an amulet, as it was considered a protective stone. The ancient Greeks believed that topaz gave them strength and had the power to make them invisible. During the Renaissance, Europeans believed that topaz could break magical spells and dispel anger. While in India, for many centuries, many people believed that when topaz was worn at the heart level, the stone would ensure long life, beauty and intelligence

In lithotherapy on the physical level, Topaz is said to aid digestion and improve eyesight. It would promote good blood circulation, and thus helps to reduce migraines and have energizing effects on the body.
On the spiritual level, it (Imperial Topaz) is advised to people suffering from depression, and shy, because it helps to develop self-confidence and pushes us to be optimistic. It would also facilitate communication with others.

In general, Topaz is a stone that is associated with many positive qualities. It is said to bring love and luck to the wearer, and to improve communication

Topaz Purification of the 

As with most stones, Topaz needs to be purified and recharged, you can immerse it in demineralized water for a few hours, then wipe it with a soft cloth, to clean it. Unlike most stones, you can also leave it to recharge under the light of the moon or the sun.