All About the History and Value of Topaz

Topaz is a mineral which has been known and prized since biblical times for its remarkable clearness and transparency. Its decline in popularity some time ago was due mainly to the fact that many far inferior stones were wrongly termed topaz. The real topaz is now, however, being more and more appreciated.

Composition and Hardness

The real topaz is a silicate of aluminum and is remarkably heavy, and is also quite hard, being No. 8. The usual color of the gem is yellow, but topaz are also found in many other shades. As is the case with aquamarine, the color may often be altered by artificial means. The yellow topaz of Brazil may, for example, be changed to a pale rose pink by heating, and this is often done. The heating and cooling of the gem must be done very carefully and slowly, but the operation presents no difficulty to an expert, and the pink color when once secured is absolutely permanent. Crystals of the topaz mineral often grow to large size, and occasionally specimens of sufficient clearness to be used as gems are found of remarkable size. Perhaps the largest cut topaz is the one presented to Pope Leo, in 1902, which weighed nearly four pounds.

Where Found

The most abundant source of the gem is an island called Topazios, in the Red Sea, and from this word is formed the present name of the gem. In modern times the largest supply of topaz has come from Brazil. It is here usually found in pebbles amongst the gravel of streams. Ordinarily occurring as a matrix in talcose rock of mica slate, the action of the stream has worn away the softer matrix, and thus disclosed the topaz in a round and worn form, but entirely free from the matrix, and known in the region as pingos d'aqua, meaning drops of water. They are also called by the Portuguese "slave's diamonds," and occasionally a fine example will approximate in appearance a diamond; in fact, a stone in the crown of Portugal reputed to be a diamond of 1680 carats weight, and called the Breganza, is probably a topaz of exceptional clearness and beauty.

Another noted locality for topaz are the Imperial mines of Russia, in the Ural Mountains. Superb topaz are cut from the crystals found there, but the finest examples are now preserved for the Imperial collection. Many localities in the United States also afford topaz.

Mention in the Bible

In biblical times topaz was a very highly prized gem, and in Revelations is mentioned as forming one of the gates of the Holy City. It is also related that the King of Tyre wore a topaz. However, the gems spoken of under this name were probably chrysolite, while what the ancients termed chrysolite would now be known as topaz.

Legend