Topaz Jewelry

Jewelry Set With Topaz Gemstones

What Is Topaz

A topaz is made when the earth combines silicate aluminum and fluorine to produce beautiful crystals. It is one of the hardest naturally occurring minerals—right up there with diamonds—and found worldwide, with the majority of this gemstone being mined in Brazil.

Scholars believe the name of topaz to come from either the Sanskrit "topas" for fire or the Greek "topazios," which is the ancient name for St. John's Island in the Red Sea, where the Greeks thought it was first found.

Though most remembered for being either golden brown to yellow or blue, topaz comes in a wide array of colors. The infusion of iron and other minerals into the stone during the formation process can make the stone a rich wine-red, pale green, pink, or even purple. Sometimes when the stones are mined, a single crystal cluster can be pleochroic and have multiple hues of topaz shooting off in different directions.

How to Care For Topaz

Once you purchase that prized piece of topaz jewelry, put it on after applying makeup and lotions to avoid clouding the stone's brilliance with these substances. As with any precious stone, caring for it is important.

Take time to clean it every few months, especially if it is a beloved ring or pendant that you wear on a regular basis. Simply wash it in a solution of mild detergent and warm water using a soft brush to wipe away dirt and oils from all crevices and surfaces.

While the hardness of the stone itself is high, topaz forms in layers like wood and can crack along the minute grainlines, so it is best to remove it during manual labor. Also, do not wear it around extreme temperatures, which could cause fading to the coloring of the stone over time.

Ross-Simons has a large selection of topaz jewelry. Shop our store here to see the complete collection.