The history of topaz is a long and ancient one and the gem has long been used as an ornament and jewelry stone. The name “Topaz” is thought to come from the name of an island in the Red Sea formerly called Topazos but now Zebirget. Topaz was mined here on this island. Another possible origin of the name Topaz is that it comes from the Sanskrit word “tapas” which means “fire” or “heat”. This could be due to the yellow/red colour that topaz sometimes occurs in.
Many people believe that topaz comes only in yellow and this is true, it does come in yellow. However fancy colors like yellow, reds, oranges and pinks are actually quite rare, so is the very beautiful natural blue. My personal thoughts on why yellow has become closely associate with topaz, in the same way that blue is associated with sapphire, is that in historical times the technology or ability to differentiate between types of stones was very limited. Yellow quartz, now known as Citrine, is quite common in many parts of the world and I believe that alot of yellow topaz was actually yellow quartz. Today we have the ability to tell the difference between the various types of stones but one still has to be cautious in the marketplace and buy from a reputable dealer as there is still the potential for confusion.
Topaz makes an ideal jewelry stone as it is hard and very durable. It cuts well into brilliant designs and becomes a gem that has lots of scintillation and “fire”. If I was pushed to pick a personal favorite of all the gemstones, I would probably have to give natural blue topaz the nod. It is a stone that I love to cut and the colour, though soft, is divine. Truly it is! The soft blue colour is for me, the most elegant of blues, soft and delicate, sometimes ethereal, sometimes icy like the blue in an arctic iceberg. It is cooling on a hot day, fresh and light and always cheery and pleasing. Each stone is unique in its coloring, some have more blue, some less. These natural blues are easily one of the most beautiful gems in the world of coloured gemstones. Blue sapphires might be the Queen of Gems, but if there is a Princess of Gems, she would be a natural blue topaz.
Within Australia, one of the best locations to find topaz is at O’Briens Creek in North Queensland. This is a very remote region, stunning in its outback rugged beauty and renown for the high quality topaz that can be discovered there. Doug Menadue, Managing Director and Master Gemcutter at King Stone Gems, is very familiar with this particular topaz having spent a number of years there mining and cutting this beautiful gemstone. You can find out more about this topaz along with pictures and stories of his adventures outback on the site, Bespoke Gems.
Topaz
Clear silvery white, natural blue, london blue, electric blue, swiss blue, sky blue, yellow, golden, red-brown, red, pink-red, violet, green, champagne
Topaz (Yellow/Golden) is the birthstone for November.
Blue topaz is the birthstone for December.
Topaz is the zodiac stone for the sign of Sagittarius.
Topaz is the ayurvedic birthstone for November.
Blue topaz is the stone for the 4th anniversary
Topaz is the stone for the 23rd anniversary
O’Briens’ Creek, Mt Surprise, North Queensland, Australia; Oban, NSW, Australia; Africa; Minas Gerais, Brazil; Texas, USA; Russia; Afghanistan; Madagascar; Cornwall, England; and other locations.
8
Most topaz is untreated however some of the blues have been treated to get the intense vivid colours.
1.609 – 1.643
2.49 – 3.57
Perfect
SRI LANKA
SKU #140138
11.36 CARATS
13.8X12.3X8.6 MM
BURMA
SKU #140044
2.97 CARATS
6.3X6.3X4 MM
MADAGASCAR
SKU #140123
11.57 CARATS
19.2X13X9.5 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #170593
4.71 CARATS
11.3X8.6X5.98 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150331
3.36 CARATS
13.87X10.41X3.68 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150210
1.38 CARATS
6.7X6.7X4.3 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #150268
2.11 CARATS
7.5X6.3X4.8 MM
NAMIBIA
SKU #170571
11.03 CARATS
17X10X8.7 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150246
0.57 CARATS
8.80X4.35X2.53 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #130097
13.01 CARATS
12.5X12.5X9.6 MM
CEYLON
SKU #150303
2.09 CARATS
8X6.13X4.9 MM
AFGHANISTAN
SKU #150464
3.15 CARATS
9.3X7.2X5.9 MM
CEYLON
SKU #150469
2.13 CARATS
12.4X6.1X3.27 MM
BURMA
SKU #150309
4.74 CARATS
10.97X9.21X6.55 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #150467
6.16 CARATS
20.2X8.4X4.9 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150471
1.34 CARATS
5.32X5.32X3.47 MM
BRAZIL
SKU #130041
12.89 CARATS
16.8X11.6X9.3 MM
BRAZIL
SKU #150200
4.55 CARATS
11.65X11.65X7.45 MM
MOZAMBIQUE
SKU #150410
1.85 CARATS
8.9X6.8X3.8 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150347
4.93 CARATS
13.35X9.47X5.98 MM
CEYLON
SKU #150323
2.96 CARATS
10.2X8.3X4.45 MM
SRI LANKA
SKU #170581
5.31 CARATS
11.9X9.0X6.0 MM
ZIMBABWE
SKU #150421
11.80 CARATS
10.95X10.22X13.99 MM
BURMA
SKU #150446
1.63 CARATS
8X6.5X4.56 MM
SRI LANKA
SKU #140169
2.52 CARATS
7.4X7.7X6.1 MM
NIGERIA
SKU #130055
5 CARATS
15.8X6.5X4.9 MM
BRAZIL
SKU #140103
5.86 CARATS
10.8X9.6X8 MM
CAMBODIA
SKU #150454
6.75 CARATS
10.6X6.9X7.19 MM
CEYLON
SKU #160518
38.50 CARATS
20.0X14.4X14.1 MM
MADAGASCAR
SKU #170574
3.30 CARATS
9.1X8.5X6.5 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #150459
3.42 CARATS
9.2X5.6X4.03 MM
SRI LANKA
SKU #160504
2.01 CARATS
7.4X7.3X4.84 MM
PAKISTAN
SKU #140149
5.07 CARATS
10.2X9.8X6.7 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150248
0.09 CARATS
4.31X2.52X1.38 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #150483
0.80 CARATS
5.64X4.78X3.26 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150275
3.59 CARATS
11.67X6.74X5.71 MM
CEYLON
SKU #160489
7.79 CARATS
9.78X8.21X5.8 MM
MOZAMBIQUE
SKU #170554
11.40 CARATS
14.7X11.2X8.6 MM
SRI LANKA
SKU #170583
2.22 CARATS
8.6X6.5X4.2 MM
UNKNOWN
SKU #150244
0.50 CARATS
4.55X4.37X2.71 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150345
6.49 CARATS
13.82X9.63X7.76 MM
SRI LANKA
SKU #160502
3.04 CARATS
9.4X7.7X5.44 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150333
3.26 CARATS
13.21X8.93X4.43 MM
BRAZIL
SKU #160538
9.80 CARATS
38.0X4.3X2.92 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150328
27.65 CARATS
33X27X4.5 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #150265
2.26 CARATS
8.55X7.11X4.76 MM
BRAZIL
SKU #130053
2.1 CARATS
8.6X5.3X4.2 MM
NIGERIA
SKU #160545
11.04 CARATS
14.4X14.4X9.1 MM
AFGHANISTAN
SKU #160532
33.52 CARATS
20.2X17.1X13.1 MM
MOZAMBIQUE
SKU #150466
2.48 CARATS
6.0X6.0X4.14 MM
NAMIBIA
SKU #140119
5 CARATS
8X8X6 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150242
0.69 CARATS
4.45X4.48X2.80 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #140164
2.11 CARATS
8.71X6.69X4.89 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #150448
11.10 CARATS
16X12.7X8.52 MM
COLOMBIA
SKU #150181
1.68 CARATS
7.4X6.05X1.95 MM
AFGHANISTAN
SKU #140128
1.54 CARATS
7.15X5.89X4.5 MM
NAMIBIA
SKU #150400
4.2 CARATS
10.41X10.41X6.73 MM
AFGHANISTAN
SKU #150450
8.00 CARATS
13.0X9.6X7.8 MM
NIGERIA
SKU #150472
1.78 CARATS
9.53X5.76X4.31 MM
AFRICA
SKU #140104
2.19 CARATS
6.8X5X4.2 MM
UNKNOWN
SKU #150249
1.05 CARATS
5.48X5.36X3.94 MM
CEYLON
SKU #140150
5.6 CARATS
11.1X9X6.6 MM
PAKISTAN
SKU #150294
9.36 CARATS
9.3X9.3X6.9 MM
NIGERIA
SKU #150462
4.09 CARATS
7.05X7.05X4.91 MM
CAMBODIA
SKU #120005
42.68 CARATS
14X16.3X15 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150344
3.09 CARATS
10.14X9.7X5.37 MM
MADAGASCAR
SKU #160535
7.52 CARATS
16.0X10.7X6.5 MM
BURMA
SKU #150271
1.02 CARATS
6.48X4.82X3.24 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #150187
1.45 CARATS
11X8X5.5 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150330
4.93 CARATS
13.16X9.44X5.98 MM
MOZAMBIQUE
SKU #170575
2.70 CARATS
13.6X6.1X4.4 MM
NIGERIA
SKU #130099
8.07 CARATS
13.4X13.4X8.4 MM
PAKISTAN
SKU #150434
12.06 CARATS
14.4X14.3X9.39 MM
MADAGASCAR
SKU #160495
11.48 CARATS
13.9X11.7X8.4 MM
TANZANIAN
SKU #160501
3.07 CARATS
10.4X6.5X4.8 MM
MADAGASCAR
SKU #150372
17.35 CARATS
16X13.6X9.7 MM
CEYLON
SKU #150258
2.33 CARATS
7.56X6.34X5.14 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #140157
12.03 CARATS
17.72X11.52X8.5 MM
CAMBODIA
SKU #150290
12.24 CARATS
13.7X10.1X7.8 MM
COLOMBIA
SKU #140141
5.84 CARATS
12.3X10X7.3 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150211
1.39 CARATS
7.6X5.75X3.5 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #150318
3.2 CARATS
8.8X7.0X4.4 MM
BURMA
SKU #130013
3.79 CARATS
8X10.1X6.4 MM
NIGERIA
SKU #130061
3.1 CARATS
10X8.2X6 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #150188
1.71 CARATS
8.4X5.6X5 MM
NAMIBIA
SKU #150449
8.82 CARATS
11.4X11.1X9.74 MM
NIGERIA
SKU #150481
2.15 CARATS
6.7X6.7X5.0 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #150487
2.35 CARATS
6.76X5.89X4.11 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #150186
2.22 CARATS
9.41X7.46X4.6 MM
NIGERIA
SKU #150203
14.06 CARATS
18.7X12.8X9.9 MM
AFGHANISTAN
SKU #150225
3.57 CARATS
11.4X8X6.6 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150241
0.42 CARATS
COLOMBIA
SKU #130046
2.3 CARATS
8.6X8.5X5.2 MM
MALAWI
SKU #150177
6 CARATS
11.71X6.92X6.95 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150213
1.83 CARATS
7X7X4.3 MM
CEYLON
SKU #170587
5.14 CARATS
9.6X9.6X7.1 MM
USA
SKU #140165
0.5 CARATS
5.5X5.5X3 MM
SRI LANKA
SKU #160505
0.78 CARATS
5X5X3.82 MM
CEYLON
SKU #150324
3.52 CARATS
8.4X8.2X5.54 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150247
0.37 CARATS
5.65X3.53X2.61 MM
CEYLON
SKU #150320
2.72 CARATS
9.8X7.2X4.69 MM
AFGHANISTAN
SKU #150406
1.47 CARATS
6.8X6.8X5.1 MM
NIGERIA
SKU #150297
16.5 CARATS
15.2X11.7X8.3 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #150484
2.26 CARATS
8.6X7.1X4.8 MM
ZAMBIA
SKU #120004
1.36 CARATS
6.9X6.8X4.5 MM
NIGERIA
SKU #140124
11.92 CARATS
15.9X10.6X6.8 MM
MOZAMBIQUE
SKU #170599
3.96 CARATS
11.9X6.9X4.8 MM
CEYLON
SKU #140137
2.4 CARATS
8X6.8X5.3 MM
SRI LANKA
SKU #160506
1.47 CARATS
7X6.2X4.32 MM
BURMA
SKU #140173
1.05 CARATS
6X6X3.9 MM
MOZAMBIQUE
SKU #170555
2.54 CARATS
9.3X7.3X5.47 MM
BRAZIL
SKU #140110
5.62 CARATS
21.5X6.3X4.6 MM
NAMIBIA
SKU #170578
2.61 CARATS
6.4X6.4X4.53 MM
MADAGASCAR
SKU #150190
4.41 CARATS
8.4X8.4X4.8 MM
AFGHANISTAN
SKU #150284
4.44 CARATS
11.9X11.9X6.1 MM
NIGERIA
SKU #130054
3.4 CARATS
12.2X7.1X4 MM
MOZAMBIQUE
SKU #170572
18.74 CARATS
20.0X14.0X10.0 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #150216
1.18 CARATS
6X6X3.9 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #140167
2.51 CARATS
10.6X7.21X4.8 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #150185
3.9 CARATS
9.15X9.15X6.2 MM
MADAGASCAR
SKU #150288
15.28 CARATS
26.9X13.1X8.2 MM
COLOMBIA
SKU #140163
1.92 CARATS
8.11X6.9X4.9 MM
NIGERIA
SKU #150394
22.85 CARATS
20.98X15.04X8.69 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #140158
7.5 CARATS
12.4X9.9X8.7 MM
MOZAMBIQUE
SKU #150418
1.51 CARATS
7.9X7.9X3.9 MM
MEXICO
SKU #150387
9.43 CARATS
15.61X8.88X7.02 MM
MOZAMBIQUE
SKU #150414
4.10 CARATS
10.04X7.31X6.61 MM
CEYLON
SKU #150474
1.57 CARATS
6.8X6.8X4.18 MM
MOZAMBIQUE
SKU #150407
2.31 CARATS
8.9X7X4.4 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #140114
1.31 CARATS
7.7X6X3.5 MM
BURMA
SKU #160490
46.96 CARATS
26.14X18.95X14.79 MM
CEYLON
SKU #150475
3.59 CARATS
9.0X7.6X6.0 MM
BURMA
SKU #150204
1.41 CARATS
6.3X6.3X4.1 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #150306
2.87 CARATS
7.5X7.5X4.83 MM
MADAGASCAR
SKU #170560
2.71 CARATS
10.9X8.6X5.5 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150348
2.63 CARATS
10.33X8.95X4.62 MM
AFGHANISTAN
SKU #150226
3.34 CARATS
11X8.7X6.7 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150473
0.76 CARATS
5.30X5.35X2.92 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #140112
18.75 CARATS
19.9X10X6.5 MM
AFGHANISTAN
SKU #150488
5.8 CARATS
13.21X8.12X6.56 MM
MAHENGE
SKU #170592
3.62 CARATS
9.7X8.7X5.4 MM
MOZAMBIQUE
SKU #150254
2.03 CARATS
8.12X6.03X5.17 MM
BURMA
SKU #130062
2.1 CARATS
8.8X6.1X4.4 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #150436
4.71 CARATS
11.3X8.6X6.01 MM
SRI LANKA
SKU #130031
1.2 CARATS
6.5X6.5X4.4 MM
MADAGASCAR
SKU #140122
12.65 CARATS
16X13.8X10 MM
BURMA
SKU #150420
1.22 CARATS
5X5X3.45 MM
NAMIBIA
SKU #160515
3.29 CARATS
8.7X8.7X6.49 MM
MADAGASCAR
SKU #170597
5.99 CARATS
11.1X9.3X5.59 MM
UNKNOWN
SKU #150250
1.80 CARATS
8.39X6.65X4.2 MM
SRI LANKA
SKU #150195
12.2 CARATS
13.25X13.25X8.2 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #130033
11.65 CARATS
16.3X10.9X7.5 MM
BRAZIL
SKU #160494
4.29 CARATS
11.45X7.06X6.16 MM
BRAZIL
SKU #170603
10.64 CARATS
15.7X10.4X8.0 MM
MOZAMBIQUE
SKU #140152
9.72 CARATS
16.2X11.2X7.9 MM
CEYLON
SKU #170595
3.94 CARATS
9.5X7.5X5.1 MM
COLOMBIA
SKU #120003
1.09 CARATS
5.9X5.7X4.2 MM
MOZAMBIQUE
SKU #150416
2.39 CARATS
8.9X6.8X4.7 MM
UNKNOWN
SKU #150383
9.97 CARATS
14X9.9X8.1 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150281
53.63 CARATS
41X35X6 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #140159
4.36 CARATS
11X9X6 MM
AFGHANISTAN
SKU #130086
10.29 CARATS
18.7X9.3X6.7 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #170589
9.50 CARATS
12.1X10.6X8.8 MM
AFRICA
SKU #150389
12.23 CARATS
12.7X12.7X7.7 MM
NAMIBIA
SKU #140131
2.53 CARATS
8.19X7.04X5.75 MM
AFGHANISTAN
SKU #153
57.1 CARATS
25.5X17.2X13.7 MM
COLOMBIA
SKU #140143
3.07 CARATS
11.2X6.8X5 MM
MOZAMBIQUE
SKU #150191
4 CARATS
10.45X10.45X6.9 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150342
2.76 CARATS
11.5X9.08X4.15 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150279
130.8 CARATS
32X17X12 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #150468
1.42 CARATS
6.65X6.58X3.56 MM
BRAZIL
SKU #170594
10.31 CARATS
16.3X11.9X8.2 MM
BURMA
SKU #170590
5.37 CARATS
11.7X8.3X6.8 MM
BURMA
SKU #130043
2.06 CARATS
7.25X7.25X4.5 MM
MADAGASCAR
SKU #150291
6.23 CARATS
16X10X7.7 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150354
14.09 CARATS
18.03X11.97X9.95 MM
MAHENGE
SKU #170591
2.99 CARATS
8.7X7.5X5.0 MM
NIGERIA
SKU #150233
5.2 CARATS
10.4X8.5X6.5 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150276
300 CARATS
27X26X17 MM
NIGERIA
SKU #160513
4.09 CARATS
10.2X10.2X6.8 MM
CEYLON
SKU #150304
1.3 CARATS
7X5.7X3.7 MM
BURMA
SKU #150445
1.37 CARATS
7.5X6X4.28 MM
NAMIBIA
SKU #130028
2.03 CARATS
8.5X8.5X6.2 MM
NAMIBIA
SKU #150222
3.67 CARATS
8.3X8.3X5.86 MM
NAMIBIA
SKU #130155
11 CARATS
20X9.8X7.6 MM
BURMA
SKU #150453
0.45 CARATS
5X4.4X3.01 MM
MADAGASCAR
SKU #160544
13.22 CARATS
16.1X13.1X9.2 MM
MADAGASCAR
SKU #150457
1.88 CARATS
6.73X6.12X4.81 MM
BRAZIL
SKU #150194
17.3 CARATS
19.5X16.5X11.2 MM
SRI LANKA
SKU #150205
0.96 CARATS
6X6X3.9 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #150403
1.49 CARATS
8.07X4.88X3.59 MM
BRAZIL
SKU #160498
1.41 CARATS
7.49X5.07X4.11 MM
AFGHANISTAN
SKU #140130
2.9 CARATS
8.7X7.6X4.9 MM
SRI LANKA
SKU #150417
1.38 CARATS
5.5X5.5X3.23 MM
AFGHANISTAN
SKU #150175
7.39 CARATS
12X10.16X7.8 MM
BURMA
SKU #160536
3.53 CARATS
10.5X8.4X4.8 MM
COLOMBIA
SKU #130047
2.5 CARATS
8.4X8.1X6.3 MM
CEYLON
SKU #150447
1.30 CARATS
7X5X3.73 MM
MOZAMBIQUE
SKU #160510
3.32 CARATS
10X8.6X5.68 MM
AFGHANISTAN
SKU #130091
11.63 CARATS
14.1X10.8X9.2 MM
MADAGASCAR
SKU #140134
1.26 CARATS
6X6X4.2 MM
MOZAMBIQUE
SKU #150270
1.03 CARATS
9.97X4.3X2.8 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150245
0.46 CARATS
5.02X3.88X2.82 MM
CEYLON
SKU #120006
5.07 CARATS
9.03X8.76X6.58 MM
NIGERIA
SKU #140129
8.08 CARATS
12X12X9.4 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150346
9.13 CARATS
17.05X13.95X6.58 MM
TANZANIA
SKU #150266
2.20 CARATS
7.6X6.7X4.7 MM
NIGERIA
SKU #130059
6.2 CARATS
12X9X8.5 MM
SRI LANKA
SKU #160503
1.70 CARATS
8X6.2X4.47 MM
MOZAMBIQUE
SKU #140151
12.88 CARATS
18X13X9.4 MM
AFGHANISTAN
SKU #160509
5.49 CARATS
11.6X9.2X7.7 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150350
3.72 CARATS
12.75X9.15X4.8 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150189
2.94 CARATS
7.7X5.65X4.5 MM
AUSTRALIA
SKU #150182
6.53 CARATS
8.6X8.6X5.9 MM
AFGHANISTAN
SKU #150374
16.39 CARATS
17.6X11.6X8.7 MM