We love fall colors–millions of Americans take to the roads every year to enjoy the beautiful reds, stunning yellows and vibrant oranges as our forests transition from summer to winter. It’s no surprise, then, that November’s birthstone is topaz, a gemstone that naturally comes in an exceptionally wide color range that includes various tones and saturations of blue, green, pink, purple – and of course – the classic autumn colors of red, yellow and orange.
The ancient Greeks believed that topaz gave them strength. In Europe during the Renaissance (the period from the 1300s to the 1600s) people thought that topaz could break magic spells and dispel anger. For centuries, many people in India have believed that topaz worn above the heart assures long life, beauty, and intelligence–a tradition that continues today.
Many custom jewelry lovers really like blue topaz; they would be surprised to know that the overwhelming majority of blue topaz in circulation today is actually clear topaz that was irradiated in a reactor! Topaz in less desirable colors are often heated to improve their color. Heat-treated reddish-brown topaz in a sand bath of 500°C turns its color to pink. Pinking is due to traces of chromium, which enters the crystal structure during the heating process in brown stones. Some topaz has already been “heated” during its journey through time and dirt right here on earth! The earth’s hot core has “heat treated” many gems and they are then mined, and loved.
Topaz is an 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, but it has poor toughness which can result in chipping or cracking, so we do not recommend it for engagement or wedding jewelry (though we do have other ideas!), but it does make gorgeous rings, necklaces, and more!
At New Gild Jewelers, we have topaz in all the beautiful shades of pink and peach and gold and would love to use it to create the perfect piece of custom jewelry for you. Come see us soon in our jewelry studio in the Linden Hills neighborhood of Minneapolis, MN.
