Blue topaz – the blue variety of topaz
Among the colors of topaz, blue topaz is considered the rarest. Untreated blue topaz is a light blue. The blue topaz from Erongo in Namibia and from the St. Anns Mine in Zimbabwe are considered to be of particularly high quality.
Nevertheless, blue topaz is very popular and can be found on the market in large quantities. The reason for this is color treatment: colorless or yellow topaz is often recolored blue. This also affects the price: you have to spend significantly less for treated topaz than for natural blue topaz.
In addition to blue topaz, there are also imperial topaz as well as yellow, pink, red-orange, white and blue-green varieties of topaz.
The shades of blue in topaz
There are three different shades of blue topaz:
- Sky blue: “sky blue” refers to all topazes with a delicate light blue color.
- Swiss blue: This is also a light blue. However, it is slightly more intense than the sky blue.
- London blue: “London blue” topazes are a dark blue with a slight green tint.
In addition to these three common color grades, there is also a very bright blue. Topazes with this color are often confused with Paraiba tourmalines, hence the misleading name “Paraiba topaz”.
There is also a risk of confusion between blue topaz and aquamarine or zircon.
Blue topaz: origin & mining
Blue topaz is mined in Brazil, Russia and Nigeria, among other places.
Use: blue topaz for jewelry
Blue topaz is mainly used for jewelry. The blue topaz from the IGNEOUS gemstone shop is suitable for all kinds of jewelry, from rings to bracelets to necklaces. You can have a goldsmith set the gemstone in silver, white or yellow gold. Depending on your preferences, you can combine blue topaz with small diamonds or other colored gemstones.
Blue topaz is also an ideal gift for jewelry. It is well received by anyone who has a preference for the color blue. According to the American Gem Society, topaz is the birthstone for the month of November. So if you are still looking for a gift for someone born in November, how about a blue topaz?
Properties: hardness, inclusions and treatment
With a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale, topaz is a relatively hard mineral. Only corundum (sapphire and ruby, hardness 9) and diamond (hardness 10) are harder.
Blue topaz rarely has visible inclusions. Occasionally, its transparency is clouded by other minerals, gases or fluids. Therefore, treatments to improve clarity are practically unheard of.
However, as already mentioned, many blue topazes are created by irradiating white or colorless topazes. Treatments of this kind must be stated in the certificate.
Most common cuts
Blue topaz is mainly faceted to emphasize its different shades of blue. The round and oval brilliant cut is very common, but the baguette cut, emerald cut, pear cut, octagon cut, cushion cut or heart cut are also found.
Slightly cloudy blue topaz is processed into smooth cabochons.
