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Topaz Color: More Than Just Yellow

Throughout much of history, all yellow gemstones were considered topaz and all 鈥渢opaz鈥� was thought to be yellow. Topaz is available in many colors, and it鈥檚 likely not even related to the stones that first donned its name.

The name topaz derives from聽Topazios, the ancient Greek name for St. John鈥檚 Island in the Red Sea. Although the yellow gemstones famously mined there probably weren鈥檛 topaz, it soon became the name for most yellowish stones.

Pure topaz is colorless, but it can become tinted by impurities to take on any color of the rainbow. Precious topaz ranges in color from brownish orange to yellow and is often mistaken for smoky quartz or citrine quartz, respectively鈥攁lthough quartz and topaz are unrelated minerals.

The most prized color is Imperial topaz, which features a vibrant orange hue with pink undertones. Blue topaz, although increasingly abundant in the market, very rarely occurs naturally and is often caused by irradiation treatment.

Production & Durability of Topaz Jewelry

The largest producer of quality topaz gemstones is Brazil. Other sources include Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Russia, Australia, Nigeria, Germany, Mexico, and the U.S.鈥攎ainly California, Utah, and New Hampshire.

Measuring 8 on the Mohs scale, topaz is a very hard and durable gemstone. Its perfect cleavage can make it prone to chipping or cracking, but when cut correctly, topaz makes very wearable and durable jewelry.