Topaz is the birthstone for those born in the month of
November.
The Romans associated topaz with Jupiter, who also is
the god of the sun. Topaz sometimes has the amber gold of fine cognac or
the blush of a peach and all the beautiful warm browns and oranges in
between. Some rare and exceptional topazes are pale pink to a sherry red.
Wear topaz only if you wish to be clear-sighted: legend
has it that it dispels all enchantment and helps to improve eyesight as
well! The ancient Greeks believed that it had the power to increase
strength and make its wearer invisible in times of emergency. Topaz was
also said to change color in the presence of poisoned food or drink. Its
mystical curative powers waxed and waned with the phases of the moon: it
was said to cure insomnia, asthma, and hemorrhages.
Perhaps the most famous topaz is a giant specimen set
in the Portuguese Crown, the Braganza, which was first thought to be a
diamond. There is also a beautiful topaz set in the Green Vault in
Dresden, one of the world's important gem collections.
Brown, yellow, orange, sherry, red and pink topaz is
found in Brazil and Sri Lanka. Pink topaz is found in Pakistan and Russia.
Today we also have blue topaz, which has a pale to medium blue color
created by irradiation. Pale topaz which is enhanced to become blue is
found in Brazil, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, and China. In early 1998, a new type
of enhanced topaz made its appearance, the surface-enhanced topaz, with
colors described as blue to greenish-blue or emerald green.
Topaz is a very hard gemstone but it can be split with a single blow, a
trait it shares with diamond. As a result it should be protected from hard
knocks.
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