The Different Types & Colours Of Topaz
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Topaz is a durable gemstone with a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale making it very suitable for regular wear & is the birthstone for the month of November. Pure topaz is colourless but impurities and structural defects explain why this gem has such excellent colour diversity.
Yellow, brown and blue colours can occur naturally due to defects in the crystal structure.
Pink, red and violet topaz colours are caused by trace elements of chromium.
IMPERIAL TOPAZ
Imperial topaz is the rarest type of topaz and the most sought after with golden orange to pink hues sometimes referred to as a sunset colour. Unlike blue topaz which is usually treated, imperial topaz’s colour is totally natural.
SHERRY TOPAZ
Sherry topaz is a colour yellowish-brown to brownish-orange colour. Considered a more valuable type of topaz but not quite as valuable as imperial topaz. Its colour is naturally occurring however the colour can fade after prolonged exposure to sunlight.
WHITE TOPAZ
White topaz is often thought of as a diamond alternative and is a crystal clear stone with excellent brilliance. White topaz is also the birthstone for the month of April as is diamond. Once set on a metal the stone will appear sparkling white. Although white topaz does sparkle, it is not as sparkly as diamond and over time the sparkle can fade but white topaz is significantly more affordable if you are looking for a diamond alternative.
While the above types of topaz are all naturally occurring colours, the following colours undergo enhancements or treatments in order to achieve their colour.
LONDON BLUE TOPAZ
London blue topaz is a deep, dark blue hue which is created by heating and irradiating white topaz (aka colourless topaz). Its colour is almost a dark inky blue colour & can have very slight grey or green undertones.
SWISS BLUE TOPAZ
Swiss blue topaz is known for its bright, vivid electric light blue colour. Often said to be more intensely saturated compared to the similar sky blue topaz. Its colour is achieved through irradiation & heat treatment of white topaz or colourless topaz.
SKY BLUE TOPAZ
Once again sky blue topaz is irradiated & heat treated to achieve its colour and it resembles as the name suggests a sky blue colour. More of a pale blue colour compared to the intensely saturated swiss blue topaz.
MYSTIC TOPAZ
Mystic topaz is a treated variety of natural colourless topaz that uses a thin coating to create its rainbow like colour. Mystic topaz is not the only gemstone to be coated in a similar way and therefore can be confused with other gemstones.