Topaz

[oddoneout]

What are the advantages/disadvantages to blue topaz? I understand that blue topaz is often treated so I was wondering how well they hold up.

Thanks

 

[FrekeChild]

They are irradiated. But I don't think that has any bearing on their durability. And they have a hardness of 8, but have perfect cleavage, so if you knock it on the right spot, you could have a shattered stone. BUT, the same cleavage is also in diamonds, so take that for what it's worth.

 

[Richard M.]

Advantage: Price (inexpensive)

Disadvantage: None if you don''t have a problem with the treatment, which is safe and permanent. It''s hard to find stones that aren''t treated one way or another these days. I searched and have yet to find any real evidence of treated spinels or garnets (except demantoids, which sometimes are heated to improve their color permanently).

Richard M.

 

[strmrdr]

I love well cut blue topaz for pendants.
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/bling-bling.72217/

I have seen many topaz rings destroyed within a week so don''t recommend it for that.

 

[oddoneout]

That''s a really pretty pendant. So would a blue topaz be safe enough for a ring?

Thanks

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 10/8/2008 8:45:32 AM
Author: oddoneout
That''s a really pretty pendant. So would a blue topaz be safe enough for a ring?


Thanks

In my opinion no, some may disagree.

 

[Cleopatra]

I had a loose blue topaz princess cut stone that was incredibly beautiful - I had it set into a soliataire ring setting and the jeweler chipped it during the setting process - it was chipped on the underside of the stone, so I still wear it occassionally, but I know the chip is there and it bothers me so much

- But I have scratched it and have a very tiny chip in it that I caused - If I would do it over, I would have made a pendant with it - I'm just too hard on it as a ring....

 

[Catmom]

I guess it depends upon how hard you are on your rings. I have a lovely emerald cut blue topaz ring that I''ve had for several years. It''s worn quite often but I have yet to scratch or chip it.