The birthstone for those born in the month of November, the bright green, blue, orange, yellow, pink, and more, topaz has had a long and storied history of popularity and usage. In and out of the fine jewelry world, topaz has been the favored gemstone for tons of civilizations, and has brought with it a number of different meanings and significations along the way.
A Brief History of Topaz:
Origins and Meanings:
Named for St. John’s Island, as well as possibly the Sanskrit word “tapas”, meaning heat or fire, topaz was first originally used by the Ancient Egyptians thousands of years ago. The Egyptians believed that the stone had been given its orange color by Sun God Ra and was thought to protect from injury and grant invisibility. As time went on, topaz became an incredibly popular stone among the Greeks, Romans, and Indians, who all considered the stone one of the more magically-imbued materials available.
During the era of the Renaissance (around the 1300s to the 1600s) topaz was thought of to bring the wearer intelligence, beauty, as well as to help resist poisons and cure lunacy.
More recently, with the finding of massive supplies of the stone in Utah, topaz has become renowned in the jewelry world for its range of colors, its opulent brilliance, and the unique way it glows when polished.
Famous Topaz:
Additionally, there are tons of massive pieces of topaz, including the Lindsay Uncut, the American Golden, and the Freeman Uncut (pictured), that can be found in museums many of history’s most impressive jewelry pieces have involved, in some way or another, topaz.
One example of this is the enormous “Braganza Diamond”. Originally thought to be a gigantic diamond, the “Braganza Diamond” is actually a 1680-caray colorless diamond, and today can be found adorning the Portuguese Crown Jewels.
Attributes of Topaz:
In nature, topaz can be found in an incomparable variety of colors that vastly range in rarity and quality. As well as being the gemstone for the state of Utah, orange topaz is the color that is traditionally considered the birthstone for individuals born in the month of November.
In addition to the more common orange topaz, they can also be found in the Imperial variety (yellow and pink), as well as the Brazilian Imperial type, which is generally of a bright yellow or deep golden brown coloring. Further, blue topaz, the state gemstone of Texas, is considered the rarest color of topaz. As a result, the necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and fashion rings that feature blue topaz are extremely valuable and in high demand by jewelry collectors.
Our Favorite Topaz Jewelry Items:
Adding topaz to your jewelry box is an easy and striking way to add a fun and stylish splash of vivid color to any ensemble, outfit, or situation. Some of our favorite pieces here at PDJ include:
Topaz Fashion Rings:
By John Hardy, this ring made of 925 Sterling Silver features a big and bold blue topaz that is surrounded by the sort of nature-inspired design that has come to define John Hardy.
We also love this vintage-inspired 925 Sterling Silver blue fashion ring from Tacori. This piece’s bright center stone and the Art Nouveau creates a truly one-of-a-kind ring that is as fashionable as it is sophisticated.
Topaz Earrings:
Speaking of Tacori, the California-based designer have lately been killing it on the Topaz front. These earrings feature a deep blue topaz color that can’t help but exude a sense of class and elegance.
Topaz Necklaces:
This pendant-style necklace, by New York’s own Luvente, features a variety of uniquely-sized blue topaz, as well as gleaming white gold and small diamonds, creating a truly striking jewelry experience.
Topaz Bracelets:
One more from Tacori! This topaz and hematite sterling silver bracelet is from the fabulous Tacori Vault collection, and is the perfect addition to any formal outfit.
How/Where To Buy Your Very Own Topaz Jewelry:
If this talk is getting you all atwitter with topaz anticipation, your local fine jewelry retailer is sure to have plenty of items to quell your topaz-fueled thirst. Take for example Benari Jewelers, located in Newtown Square and Exton, Pennsylvania, who offer an immense selection of topaz-adorned jewelry items.
Show Us Yours!
Enough of our talking! Visit our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter page and tell us why YOU love topaz!
During the past few years, the fashion world has seen an amazing increased interest in all things vintage. With things like choker necklaces, high-waisted “mom” jeans, or whatever else, it looks like the nostalgia-tinged fashion echoes of yesterday are here to stay. Always on the cutting-edge, the world of engagement rings has embraced this retro revival. Many modern designers including, Tacori, Michael M., A. Jaffe, and more, have taken advantage of this sartorial shift, and have reintroduced the vintage-inspired halo style engagement ring to the jewelry-buying public.
