Topaz Rings
Rings Set With Topaz Gemstones
How Valuable is Topaz?
Overall, topaz is readily mined in many countries of the world and is therefore affordable for many who desire this beautiful gemstone. The topaz provides a variety of colors, and due to its hardness and large formations, it can be cut and fashioned into many different sizes and shapes.
It is the color that determines the true value of the stone. Topaz comes in a rainbow array of hues, with the three blues, Sky, Swiss, and London, being the most popular shades for consumers. The most easily found is the white topaz, a colorless stone that is the base topaz composition without inclusions of other minerals. These are often used in a setting that would normally require diamonds or in processes to transform white topaz into other colors to complete a design.
Other colors include Hyacinth, a dark orange to dark red, and Sherry, a topaz that most people describe as brownish-yellow to orange or a yellow-brown. Most of these are moderately valued, with higher prices being demanded by the red, orange, and yellow topaz in that order.
The rarest and valuable is the Imperial (or Precious) Topaz. These include gemstones that are naturally intense reddish-orange, pink, or peachy-orange in color. The Imperial name comes from the fact that their rare beauty was coveted by the Czars of Russia in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Why a Topaz Ring?
Rings are a great way to show off a beautiful center stone or a smaller collection of accent stones. The piece captures the light as you move your hand, gesturing during conversations, and attracts the admiration of onlookers.
Topaz is often used as an accent to larger gems and minerals, especially the white and blue shades. Topaz pieces can be more affordable than the diamond and aquamarine counterparts yet look similar. Also, with the variety of colors found in the topaz gemstone, it can be used in rings that exhibit a collection of multicolored hues.
When purchasing a topaz ring, it is better to size it to your less dominant hand. Topaz, while reaching almost diamond status on the hardness scale, is formed with the molecules in lines rather than all bound together. This creates planes in the stone called cleavage. Cleavage can cause the stone to break if struck by a hard blow. If the ring is on your less dominant hand, the chance of breakage is minimalized. If performing heavy manual labor, leave the ring in your jewelry box in its own compartment to avoid accidentally cracking it.
It is also a good idea to take the ring off when you apply lotions or are planning to come in contact with high heat for a prolonged amount of time. The lotions can coat the gemstone causing it to lose luster and sparkle until its next cleaning. If the stone is colored, high heat can permanently fade the gemstone.