Topaz Question

[Bev]

I know this has probably been asked a thousand times, but where should I be looking for a good topaz pear stone??

 

[valeria101]

No it hasn't been asked

If it is blue topaz, than you should be able to find the color you like and a perfect cut (symmetrycal, rather bright, definitely no windows) because this material is never spared uring cuting.

Palagems has a rather good page about cut for colored gems and the same basic facts the demonstrate on ovals apply to anything.

Somena tural colors of topaz can get quite expensive and there color comes first, cut second.

This is about all that comes up asap.

What do you have in mind ?

 

[Richard M.]

I think Ana asked the right question: what do you have in mind?

You may not be aware that topaz probably is subjected to more kinds of color treatment than any other gem. Apart from the natural colors, roughly white to yellow through amber and into the peaches, pinks and reds of Imperial topaz (some of which are heated), topaz is subjected to a dizzying number of laboratory processes.

Blue topaz (which rarely occurs in nature as faintly blue crystals) is nearly always the product of both irradiation and heat treatment, starting with white topaz. Mystic topaz and its multi-hued clones which now include pink and red, are produced by coatings on white topaz. (Blue topaz treatment is permanent while azotic coatings are fairly fragile and can''t stand up to much hard wear).

Then there''s a whole "family" of topaz colors (green, sapphire blue, bicolored blue/green, etc.) that result from a heat diffusion process similar to that used to treat sapphire.

In other words, there''s a lot for the topaz consumer to know and it''s a good thing you''re asking questions. Many consumers don''t care about topaz treatments and enjoy the resulting low prices of treated stones. But others are confused when they encounter very high priced natural topazes and wonder why there''s such a difference.

 

[Bev]

Thank you guys for replying!

I''m looking for a blue topaz or maybe even a blue sapphire pear or cushion cut stone set in pave. I also want to put a diamond halo around the stone. I was looking to do this with a diamond, but I just can''t afford the size I want! DH says maybe in 5 years. Thing is I don''t know anything about colored stones, where to look for them and how to pick a good quality stone. I always see stones in the chain jewelry stores in the mall, but many of them are lab created - something I definitely don''t want.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 7/26/2005 6:29:14 PM
Author: Bev

I'm looking for a blue topaz or maybe even a blue sapphire pear or cushion cut stone set in pave. I also want to put a diamond halo around the stone.

If someshade of blue is the desired color:blue topaz is virtually costless, aquamarine of the same intense color would be already quite expensive and sapphire prices go from there (the top aqua's) to eternity. Other gems come in blue butnot as consistently (say, spinel and tourmaline). But it would be allot of help if you looked over some options first, before anyone could help.

Will you replace this stone with a diamond in the same setting latter on ? If so, than a diamond halo for a fancy shape would be tricky because the shape of the halo needs to fit the shape of the stone. For squares and rounds it would work relatively easy, and then, nothing is impossible.

Speaking of gem guies: Palagems.com has a very nice one (different pages on each of the more popular kinds of gemstones). And you might want to start with the 5 minute guide put up by GIA (at gia.edu look for 'Learn How to Buy A gemstone... on a silly picture of a lady in a red dress). GIA's guide looks easy, but it is very good, as far as I can tell. It is amazing how much information they could squeeze into a few hundred words! After that, Pala's pages will become allot more useful, I would think. Not to mention great to look at.

Among online shops, take a look at Thenaturalsapphirecompany (for sapphire), Creativegem (for topaz) and this thread for aquamarine.

Hope some of this will be fun. At least in this part of Pricescope, quite a few would actually favor a colored gem anyway. Including myself

 

[MissAva]

Here is my blue topaz with diamond halo is this close to what you are looking for?

 

[canuk-gal]

Date: 7/26/2005 6:00:03 PM
Author: Richard M.
I think Ana asked the right question: what do you have in mind?


In other words, there''s a lot for the topaz consumer to know and it''s a good thing you''re asking questions. Many consumers don''t care about topaz treatments and enjoy the resulting low prices of treated stones. But others are confused when they encounter very high priced natural topazes and wonder why there''s such a difference.

HI:

Yes please--in my case I want to know where "regular" topaz ends, and "Imperial" begins.

cheers--Sharon

 

[Richard M.]

Date: 7/26/2005 8:07:56 PM
Author: canuk-gal

Date: 7/26/2005 6:00:03 PM





Yes please--in my case I want to know where ''regular'' topaz ends, and ''Imperial'' begins.


cheers--Sharon

Great question -- and a very confused issue.

I''m satisfied from my own research that the term originated with the fine topazes found in Russia''s Ilmen and Ural Mountains during the reign of the Czars (but I may hear from people who disagree!) It was named "Imperial" because the finest pink and red gems were fancied by the royals at the imperial court.

Since fine Russian topaz has become unavailable, the main producer of natural gem topaz has been Brazil, from the mines near Ouro Preto. According to a gemologist who specialized for a long time in Brazilian gems and worked with the largest jewelry firms in the country, the term "imperial" has a different meaning in different places. In the U.S. gem trade it generally refers to the peach color only. But in Brazil and elsewhere the name is applied to cherry red, pink, salmon, champagne and peach hues.

Richard M.

 

[strmrdr]

my favorite blues are zircons.
Nice shades of blue available and almost as sparky as diamond and much more than most other gemstones.

is this for a ring or pendant?

 

[Bev]

Thank you everyone for your great insight.


Ana - I wouldn''t be replacing the stone with a diamond later. I would probably just get a whole new setting. Thanks for all the helpful websites. I''ll definitely be reading them.

Matatora - Your pear is GORGEOUS!! That is pretty much what I''m looking for. I would like my w band to sit flush against the ering. Such great color that topaz has! Did you get it custom made?


strmrdr - this would be for a ring. I''ll definitely look into zircons.

Any other helpful suggestions are welcome! Thanks again!

 

[strmrdr]

For an everyday ring id look into sapphire just for duribility reasons for occasional wear in a ring the rest should be fine.

 

[pyramid]

I know someone who has had an oval blue topaz in a high set engagement ring, worn everyday, for 12 years and there does not appear to be any wear on the stone. I have not inspected it in my own hands though - just looking at arms length when she has worn it.