Topaz Offers A Variety Of Colorful Beauty
The name Topaz was once a jeweler’s classification for any yellow and golden-brown gemstone. It was not uncommon for many light green gemstones to be classified under this category as well. The name was originally created when stones were discovered on a small island, Topazos, actually the original source of peridot. However, this island in the Red Sea, now called Zabargad, is still given credit for having been the location where the Romans first found a stone that they called Topaz. There are some that believe the word topaz is an ancient Sanskrit, Tapas, a word that means fire.
Heating A Topaz Can Create A Colorful Array Of Choices
Today the name now includes a variety of colors such as pink, brown, golden-yellow, green, blue and colorless. The most valuable topaz is the natural pink gemstone. The natural occurrence of a pink stone is very rare and therefore makes the gemstone extremely valuable. It is possible to purchase a less expensive pink topaz gemstone but these less expensive pink stones are actually heated yellow material that becomes pink when altered by heat.
The naturally colorless topaz can be temperature treated to a high heat level that will turn the topaz into the popular light blue, often referred to as the Tiffany blue. This colored gemstone is similar in color to the aquamarine but is a lot less expensive to purchase.
The Topaz Gemstone Is Rich In Mystical Ancient Histories
For many, true topaz is said to be the symbol of love and affection and is believed to offer protection to its wearer. Ancient cultures often supported the belief that this gemstone not only provided protection for the individual that wore the stones, but that it gave the individual the chance to become invisible in emergencies. It was also said that this gemstone could calm anger, heal poor vision and deflect bad omens if it were set in gold and worn around the neck.
The Faceted Cut Is A Popular Choice For The Transparent Gemstones
Topaz is a gemstone that has the ability to be cut into many different shapes. Generally the color and quality of the stone will indicate how the stone is best cut. Colored stones are generally given a step cut, a cut that is often referred to as an emerald cut. For the colorless or weakly colored stones, the brilliant cut is much more popular. These faceted cuts each include small planes within the surface of the stone, called facets. This type of cut is applied mostly for transparent gems.
