Gem Profile- Blue Topaz

by Judy Ellis

I'm feeling a little "Blue" today, it's quite "Mystical" that I'm feeling this way, perhaps I'll be able to feel in the "Green" again if we finish our talk about Topaz! As we learned last week, Topaz is a naturally colorless stone, but due to inclusions and imperfections can range in color from clear to yellow/gold, green and blue.

Blue & Green Topaz

Blue topaz, in all its shades, is rare in nature.

Lighter-colored stones are often enhanced through radiation and heat to achieve their blue color.

There are a few natural deposits of blue topaz worldwide, including Mason County, Texas.

A recent find at the Zapot Mine in Hawthorne, Nevada, has produced more natural light blue and pale green topaz.

Gail Maas wrapped this 10mm Swiss Blue Topaz into a large and bright eye-catching ring

You might wonder why so much blue topaz is available if it's rare in nature.

The answer is science! Clear or lightly colored topaz is treated with neutrons, electrons, or gamma rays to realign the crystal matrix and enhance or change its color.

The stones are then heat-treated to stabilize and set the color. Treated stones are less likely to fade, unlike some naturally blue topaz.

Joan Madouse created this pendant for a custom order, wrapping a 75-carat London Blue Topaz in sterling silver wire.

How was Irradiation Discovered, Anyway?

The first known gem irradiation occurred in 1905 when English chemist Sir William Crookes buried a diamond in radium bromide powder.

Sixteen months later, the previously colorless diamond turned a beautiful green but it was highly radioactive!

This method is no longer used. Today, color-enhanced gems sold in the United States are regulated.

Peggy Marzano used both Swiss Blue Topaz and London Blue Topaz in her wire wrapped pendant.

Types of Blue Topaz

The most sought-after blue topaz color is deep London Blue.

It is created by neutron bombardment followed by heat treatment to remove yellowing and stabilize the color.

Sky Blue Topaz, resembling light aquamarine, is produced using electron irradiation in a linear accelerator.

Swiss Blue Topaz, a medium blue, results from combining both processes.

Jan Cramer dreamed of having a waterfall as a child and now she has one.

She created a waterfall necklace using fine silver wire, a sterling silver handmade clasp, AAA-quality London Blue Topaz briolettes, and Swarovski crystals.

Green topaz is created when certain stones change color after irradiation and heating.

Usually, only darker yellow or light pink topaz will turn green under these conditions.

Mystic Topaz is a natural stone with a titanium coating on the pavilion, reflecting light to produce green, blue, purple, and red flashes.

This patented process is usually applied to clear stones, but other colors can be used to create beautiful variations like Azotic Topaz.

Since Mystic Topaz is vapor-coated, it should be cared for similarly to pearls.

Tourmaline and London Blue Topaz teardrop gem necklaces were wrapped by Gail Maas, inspired by a Mai Flores design.

Blue Topaz in Culture

Topaz is one of the sacred stones in Hindu tradition and is said to sharpen intelligence and lengthen life when worn as a pendant.

Some African tribes use topaz to commune with ancestors and the spirit world.

Blue topaz is believed to enhance creative energy, bring fortune, aid concentration, and symbolize uprightness and virtue.

Wearing a blue topaz ring is said to ward off premature death and help control greed or lust.

Legends also suggest that topaz loses its color in the presence of poison, protecting its owner.

Blue topaz is an alternative birthstone for December.

The Lone Star Gem

Another road trip? Let's go to Texas! Blue topaz is the state gem of Texas and even has its own gem cut, the Lonestar cut.

Early settlers called the light blue stones "desert ice" because of their icy appearance in streams.

Although Texas topaz isn't mined commercially, you can find some yourself with a little effort and a willingness to get a bit dirty.

Sandy Talen, a proud fifth-generation Texan, specializes in wrapping Blue Topaz, especially stones cut with the Lone Star effect, as shown in this bracelet by Sandy.

Resources & Recommended Reading

Topaz - Minerals.net
Topaz - MyGemologist.com
Blue Topaz History - www.jewelsforme.com
Gemstone Irradiation on Wikipedia

Gem Profile- Blue Topaz

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