IMPERIAL TOPAZ

The most valuable and rarest variety of Topaz Family, the Imperial Topaz is seldom found in over 5 to 10 cts. By comparison, the white colorless variety of Topaz is found in larger sizes and quantities. Of all the Topaz varieties, it's the only Topaz variety that contains red or pink color, sometimes also orangy red to light red color.

The Precious Topaz refers to only the natural color variety that is not an Imperial color and not white colorless. For Examples, Champagne color and yellow colors.

Imperial Topaz in rich orange color can fetch prices in excess of $1000 per ct. for large (10 ct. +) sizes. The most valuable topaz is a rich pink or red color, and can reach $3500 per /ct. at retail. These are rare in sizes above 5 cts.

All blue topaz are made through the process of irradiation and then heat treatment. This is undetectable and extremely common.

There are three main flavors. The first, a “sky” blue, produced by gamma rays (cobalt 60). The Deeper “Swiss (a.k.a. ‘windex’) ” and The “London” blues are produced by high-energy electrons (cyclotron) or nuclear radiation. In the latter case, the stones must be allowed to cool down to safe levels of radioactivity before being sold. This typically takes a few months to up to two years.

Some orangy topaz are heated to destroy the color centers, leaving behind the chromium-caused pink color, usually applied to Brazilian stones. Imperial Topaz that contain red color are mined from two different locations: The first is The Ukraine and the second is Nigeria. Only Nigerian stones have stable color, which means it will not change color if exposed to ultra-violet rays from the sun. These stones are 100% unheated simply because excessive heat or irradiation cause the color to change to yellow.

Finally, some topaz are coated with metallic oxides, similar to the coatings on camera lenses. This produces various colors and rainbow-like reflections. But the coatings are easily scratched. It has been marketed under the name “rainbow” Topaz or Mystic Topaz.

Topaz has never been synthesized, but a number of immitations exist, including natural stones such as Citrine and Smoky Quartz, and man-made imitations such as glass.