22860000 22860000 (`@````````` 266 263 5 110185200 110185200 Text Box:   The color in which the topaz is most commonly found is yellow, and that is the color in which it occurs in one of the major German gemstone rocks, the Schneckenstein (a topaz-bearing rock said to resemble a snail) in Saxony. In the 18th century, it was mined there during a period of over 60 years. However, most of the crystals were hardly a centimeter in diameter. You had to go to Siberia or Brazil to find crystals as large as your fist. Having said that, anyone who is interested can convince himself of the beauty of cut specimens in the topaz set in Dresden's Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault). The enormous and magnificent topaz from the Portuguese crown, the Braganza, was for a long time thought to be a diamond. It weighs 1680 ct..   In mysticism, the topaz is attributed with a cooling, styptic and appetizing effect. It is said to dispel sadness, anger and nocturnal fears, to warn its wearer of poisons and protect him or her from sudden death. It is reputed to make men handsome and intelligent and sterile women fertile and happy. However, it is probably better not to rely too much on its magical powers, since it was also claimed that you could immerse your hand in boiling water after a topaz had been thrown into it and retract it again unharmed! It is the stone of the month November.   In the Empire style, the topaz was still widespread, but then the more reasonably priced citrine took over from it and even usurped its name - gold topaz. Since then, the topaz has been a rather exotic figure in the jeweler trade, and has been given the additional predicate 'pure' to make it clear that the topaz, not the quartz topaz, is meant. And it is still waiting for its well deserved comeback to this day.  

Text Box: Topaz origin and Lore

Text Box: Topaz Facts ¨ Hardness: 8.0 ¨ Color: from colorless to orange, pink, peach, tan, beige, golden, warm brown, and yellows and greens. ¨ Durability: Hard but brittle, avoid sudden temperature changes. ¨ Availability: Blue Topaz is readily available. Rarest colors are pink, red and golden. ¨ Topaz is the birthstone for November. ¨ Stone for the 19th and 23rd wedding anniversaries ¨ The rarest color of Topaz is purple ¨ The first synthetic Sapphire was created in 1902 ¨ Ancients believed that during the Middle Ages topaz was thought to heal both physical and mental disorders and prevent death.

 

Text Box: Topaz Information

  The topaz has been known for at least 2000 years and is one of the gemstones which form the foundations of the twelve gates to the Holy City of the New Jerusalem. These so-called apocalyptic stones are intended to serve in protection against enemies and as a symbol of beauty and splendor. It cannot be proved conclusively whether the name of the topaz comes from the Sanskrit or the Greek, though the Greek name 'topazos' means 'green gemstone'. The Romans dedicated the topaz to Jupiter.

 
 

 

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