Happy Birthday to our November-born followers! Your birthstone or I should say, birthstones are Topaz and Citrine. As usual, we are choosing one gemstone as our focus for the month, Topaz. The gemstone Topaz has been prized for centuries for its beauty and rarity. Since at least the 15th-century Topaz has been known as November’s birthstone, and in 1912 the National Association of Jewelers made it official. Topaz comes in a variety of colors from colorless, blue, yellow, orange, pink violet, brown and very rarely red.
Topaz has a long history, dating back to ancient times. The name topaz comes from the Sanskrit word tapas, which means “fire” and others reference it back to the Greek word topazos. Ancient Romans and Greeks valued topaz and used it to aid in strength and prevent injuries. The Egyptians treasured topaz and often wore amulets of topaz to protect them from injury. Egyptians also believed that the topaz gemstone had extreme mystical powers given by the sun god of Ra. Hindus also believed topaz held powerful protective abilities and was used as a talisman to ward off evil spirits; protecting their homes as well as their health and beauty.
Topaz color varieties courtesy of google creative commons.
Topaz comes in many varieties and though it is a natural stone it can go through a number of treatment processes to bring out or alter its color and properties. Here is a list of some of the most popular types of topaz: - Imperial Topaz - Originated in the 19th-century Russia where the Ural Mountains were topaz's leading source and comes in a range of orange, peach, and pink shades (pink, pinkish-red or violet is one of the rarest true topaz colors). Imperial Topaz was named in honor of the Russian Czar and his Imperial Family. Laws were even set at the time restricting non-royals from owning or wearing these rare pink gems. Imperial topaz is the gem of the 23rd wedding anniversary.
- Mystic Topaz - This variety is coated with a thin layer of titanium which creates a multi-colored iridescent effect. Mystic topaz requires delicate care in order to maintain its striking color, so abrasive cleaning should be avoided.
- White Topaz -Also sometimes referred to as glacier topaz can be as colorless as a diamond.
- Blue Topaz - Blue topaz is the gem of the fourth wedding anniversary and comes in several varieties such as Sky Blue Topaz, London Blue Topaz, and Swiss Blue Topaz. Natural-occurring topaz is extremely rare, but can be created by treating white topaz with small bursts of radiation.
Topaz has a long history, dating back to ancient times. The name topaz comes from the Sanskrit word tapas, which means “fire” and others reference it back to the Greek word topazos. Ancient Romans and Greeks valued topaz and used it to aid in strength and prevent injuries. The Egyptians treasured topaz and often wore amulets of topaz to protect them from injury. Egyptians also believed that the topaz gemstone had extreme mystical powers given by the sun god of Ra. Hindus also believed topaz held powerful protective abilities and was used as a talisman to ward off evil spirits; protecting their homes as well as their health and beauty.
For more than two centuries Topaz has been mined in Minas Gerais, a state in Brazil that is one of the most important sources of high-quality topaz. Some of the colors from there range from yellow to orange, red, pink, violet, and combinations of red with orange or purple. Pink topaz is found in Northwestern Pakistan in Ghundao Hill close to Katlang in the Mardan district. Cyclamen pink is one of the most sought-after shades of pink topaz which has a tinge of violet but is only rarely discovered. This November birthstone is also sourced in Namibia, Nigeria, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, the United States, and Russia.
Purple Topaz image from Wikipedia in the google creative commons.
This November birthstone has also been admired by royalty throughout history. Princess Marie of Waldeck (1857-1882) who married Prince William of Württemberg (later King William II) in 1877 had an exquisite parure of diamond and pink topaz. The sparkling pink topaz parure included a tiara, two bracelets, a pair of earrings, and a large brooch. Princess Marie's pink topaz set was last associated with the Faerber Collection.
Left image: The Württemberg Pink Topaz Tiara from tiara-mania.com Right Image: Princess Marie in her Pink Topaz parure.
Topaz is a durable gemstone and is an 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, but it should be stored away from other gemstones to avoid scratches and chipping, as it has poor toughness. When cleaning your November birthstone, do not use steam cleaning or ultrasonic cleaners, use only mild soap and warm water. Avoid high heat and sudden temperature changes as they may cause internal breaks in topaz gemstones. To keep your topaz jewelry looking its best, have it professionally cleaned and inspected every few years.