Topaz Jewellery Origins

The most likely origin of the word Topaz is its derivation from the old Sanskrit word, tapas, meaning fire.
In ancient times Topaz was said to ward off Epilepsy and Asthma. As a cure for insomnia the stones were first steeped in water to make a drink.
In the middle ages it was thought that a Topaz placed in a bowl of boiling water will chill it in an instant - the opposite result to that of a Ruby which was believed to make water boil.

Oscar Wilde described the colours of Topaz....as yellow as the eye of a Tiger, Topazes as pink as the eyes of a Wood Pigeon, a green Topazes that are as the eyes of a cat. The Roman Emperor Hadrian owned an ancient ring set with Topaz. On it was a prophecy guaranteeing good luck to the wearer.

View our Topaz Jewellery collection.

Large, square or cabochon Topaz stones are particularly arresting as pendants in broad polished Gold settings. Smaller Topaz stone can add fantastic flashes of glittering colour really setting light to the right piece.

Topaz: Gem of the Setting Sun

The Egyptians said that topaz was colored with the golden glow of the mighty sun god Ra. This made topaz a very powerful amulet that protected the faithful against harm. The Romans associated topaz with Jupiter, who also is the god of the sun. Topaz sometimes has the amber gold of fine cognac or the blush of a peach and all the beautiful warm browns and oranges inbetween. Some rare and exceptional topaz are pale pink to a sherry red.

Wear topaz only if you wish to be clear-sighted: legend has it that it dispels all enchantment and helps to improve eyesight as well! The ancient Greeks believed that it had the power to increase strength and make its wearer invisible in times of emergency. Topaz was also said to change color in the presence of poisoned food or drink. Its mystical curative powers waxed and waned with the phases of the moon: it was said to cure insomnia, asthma, and hemorrhages.

Perhaps the most famous topaz is a giant specimen set in the Portuguese Crown, the Braganza, which was first thought to be a diamond. There is also a beautiful topaz set in the Green Vault in Dresden, one of the world's important gem collections.

Brown, yellow, orange, sherry, red and pink topaz is found in Brazil and Sri Lanka. Pink topaz is found in Pakistan and Russia.

Today we also have blue topaz, which has a pale to medium blue color created by irradiation. Pale topaz which is enhanced to become blue is found in Brazil, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, and China. In early 1998, a new type of enhanced topaz made its appearance, the surface-enhanced topaz, with colours described as blue to greenish-blue or emerald green.

Topaz is a very hard gemstone but it can be split with a single blow, a trait it shares with diamond. As a result it should be protected from hard knocks.

Topaz is the birthstone for those born in the month of November.