You may have a certain image that comes to mind when you hear “topaz;” however, you might be surprised to discover some of the more defining details about the unique November birthstone.
Topaz Comes in a Rainbow of Colors
Though it has historically been thought of as a yellow stone, topaz actually can run the gamut on color hues from pale blues and greens, to warm reds, pinks, and oranges. Colorless and pale blue topaz are actually the most abundantly occurring in nature, and golds, pinks, and reds are more rare. One notable color differentiator is the “Imperial” topaz, which sellers identify as those with distinct, saturated red, pink, or orange hues. Two theories exist as to where the name came from. The first is that it was in honor of the Russian Tsar who owned topaz mines in the Ural mountains and would receive the rarest topaz pieces for himself and his family. The second is that the Emperor of the Brazilian Empire was once presented with a distinguished red topaz by a professor upon his travels to Ouro Preto, and from then on, the color was referred to as “Imperial.”
Classic Caribbean blue of modern irradiated topaz.
Topaz has Celebrated Powers
Many cultures throughout history have touted the significance of Topaz, and all for various reasons. It was believed by Europeans to have magical powers, specifically the ability to remedy anger and aggression. In the Indian culture, it was believed that beauty, intelligence, and longevity could be achieved by wearing topaz above the heart. Topaz was well known in ancient Greece for bringing strength.
Brazil is the Largest Producer of Topaz
The boom in popularity of topaz can be largely attributed to the discovery of the largest topaz mine in the world, Minas Gerais, in Brazil. Mining began there during the gold rush, and it became well known for its topaz, in particular, what would come to be known as its rare Imperial topaz. Pink and yellow topaz became highly popular in the fashion world throughout the 1800’s, and most of the pink gemstones seen in famous pieces of jewelry from Spain and Portugal actually originated in Brazil.
Think Big
Topaz is known for its ability to form extremely large crystals, and some of the topaz crystals mined from Brazil are as big as boulders. Several of the crystals are displayed today at the Smithsonian, and have been seen pictured next to a young child to show their size. One such crystal at the Smithsonian weighs an impressive 156 pounds.