The Uses of Blue Topaz

For the most part Blue Topaz is used for ornamental jewelry. While Topaz is common, it doesn’t really have any uses for industry besides jewelry. Topaz is considered an aluminum fluorosilicate. Topaz comes in many colors; however it is found naturally colorless the most. Some of the more rarer colors include Topaz’s that are considered Imperial, these Topaz colors are orange, red, violet and pink, these colors are caused by iron, oxygen and hydrogen and have color centers which are still not very well understood.

Color centers are important to be familiar with when buying Topaz. Today, practically all the Blue Topaz sold today has been modified using certain techniques to manipulate the color centers. For instance, irradiation or heating can increase or decrease a color. For instance, irradiating clear Topaz can create Blue Topaz.

Although irradiation can cause the creation of blue Topaz, this same irradiation caused by natural occurring phenomenon (heat and exposure to light) can also reverse the process. For instance, some irradiated Blue Topaz’s can turn brown or other colors when heated or placed in direct sunlight for only a few days. Heat can vary by each stone, sometimes it can be a difference of a few hundred degrees, sometimes merely a difference of five or ten degrees. However it is important to note that Blue Topaz out of all the colors is usually the most stable, meaning that the color blue will last the longest while a green or red can last the shortest due to heat or light.

Blue Topaz - The History and Origins

Blue Topaz is part of the Topaz family and besides the color blue which is always in demand are the colors yellow, pink, red, violet, brown and brownish green. Topaz has been known to man since the dawn of time and the term Topaz was usually used to refer to any stone that was yellow in color.

However, the Topaz of today is a name used to refer to a specific mineral that was coined by Henckel. Henckel wrote of mineral deposits in Germany. Because the name Topaz was used interchangeably with minerals such as quartz and Citrine, you can still see terms such as smoky Topaz and Madeira Topaz which are not Topaz minerals. The original word Topaz comes from ancient Sanskrit word Tapas, meaning fire.

Besides Blue Topaz and Yellow Topaz, there are also colors of Topaz that are considered Imperial Topaz. Imperial Topaz consists of Topaz that includes the colors orange, pink, red and violet. These colors are some of the most rare and precious Topaz colors. The term Imperial Topaz was coined by the Czar of Russia, during the 1800’s in which he claimed that only he, his family and the people that received these gems as gifts can own Imperial Topaz.

Topaz in their many colors are used for gifts, especially as birthstones. For instance, Topaz is the birthstone for November and is also given as an astrological gift to those that are Sagittarius. Topaz has many metaphysical traits for its believers, it is said to give one spiritual potential and to dramatically increase creativity or intelligence. It is also said that those that where Topaz will be wiser and wealthier.