Product Description
History
The word “topaz” is thought to have originated from the Greek word “Τοpáziοs” or “Τοpáziοn” from the ancient name of a small island in the Red Sea, now called St. John’s Island or Zabargad. Ironically the island reportedly produced peridots instead of topaz. Another possible origin of the word “topaz” is from the ancient Sanskrit word topas or tapaz, which means “fire.”
The ancient Greeks wore topaz to give them strength. Europeans from the 1300s to the 1600s thought that topaz could break magic spells and dispel anger. Indians for a very long time believed that topaz would grant them long life, beauty, and intelligence.
Sources
Topaz can be found usually together with fluorite and cassiterite in various areas including the Ural and Ilmen mountains of Russia, in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Czech Republic, Germany, Norway, Pakistan, Italy, Sweden, Japan, Brazil, Mexico; Flinders Island, Australia; Nigeria and the United States.
Quality
The varieties of topaz are simply identified by its colour such as blue topaz, pink topaz. However there are also a couple of special trade names reserved for the rarest and most valuable topaz. Imperial topaz is medium reddish orange to orange-red coloured topaz. Sherry topaz—named after the sherry wine—is a yellowish brown or brownish yellow to orange coloured topaz.
Trivia
The American Golden Topaz, is the largest cut yellow topaz in the world. The 172-faceted topaz weighs 22,892.5 carats (4.57850 kg), originating from Minas Gerais, Brazil.
