TOPAZ
Birthstone: November
Wedding Anniversary: twenty-third
Topaz is a very beautiful stone with a high degree of clarity, hardness and brilliance. It ranges in colour from yellow to a familiar sherry to one of the highly prized and sought after rare red. We stock a beautiful range of topaz which is golden yellow to orange in colour, with pinkish or reddish overtones, also known as Imperial Topaz.
When light brown Topaz is heated and irradiated, it gives a lovely blue Topaz. Higher quality blue Topaz is very attractive and is therefore the more affordable alternative to the more expensive finest aquamarine to which it can be compared in colour.
Topaz symbolizes love and affection. In ancient times, it was also used as a powerful amulet that protected the faithful against harm. Some of its mystical, curative powers are said to cure insomnia, asthma and hemorrhages.
One of the most famous Topaz is set in the Portuguese crown, the Braganza, another one is set in the Green Vault in Dresden, home of the world’s most famous gem collections. At the Smithsonian Gallery in Washington, one can find a beautiful faceted Topaz weighting about 22,892 carats (about 10 pounds!).
Brown, yellow, orange, sherry, red and pink topaz are found in Brazil and Sri Lanka. Pink Topaz is found in Pakistan and Russia. Most of the blue Topaz comes from Brazil, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and China.