How to clean it
Warm soapy water only. No ultrasonic and no steam: topaz has perfect basal cleavage and can split along it.
Colourless, blue, yellow, imperial orange-pink
Topaz
The birthstone for November.
Is Topaz a birthstone?
Yes. Topaz is the modern birthstone for November.
By zodiac sign it belongs to Scorpio and Sagittarius .
Properties
Composition
Aluminium fluorosilicate (Al₂SiO₄(F,OH)₂)
Hardness (Mohs)
8
Crystal system
Orthorhombic
Colour
Colourless, blue, yellow, imperial orange-pink
Mined in
Brazil, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka
Worth knowing
Nearly all blue topaz on the market began as colourless stone, irradiated and heated to produce the colour.
History
Named after Topazios, a Red Sea island — which actually produced peridot, not topaz.
Practical
Caring for Topaz
How to tell it is real
Nearly all blue topaz began as colourless stone that was irradiated and heated. That is standard and legal, but it makes any claim of natural blue topaz worth questioning.
One general rule covers most mistakes: never store stones loose together. Diamond at 10 on the Mohs scale scratches everything else you own, and it does not need much contact to do it.
What that hardness means in practice
Hard enough for daily wear in any setting. It will outlast the metal it is set in.
Traditional associations
Topaz is traditionally linked to confidence, clear intention and honest self-assessment. In chakra systems it is placed at the Solar Plexus, Throat, and in elemental correspondence it is assigned to Fire.
These are cultural associations recorded across various traditions, not claims about physical effects. The composition and hardness above are measurable; this paragraph is folklore, and worth reading as such.
Questions
What is Topaz made of?
Aluminium fluorosilicate (Al₂SiO₄(F,OH)₂), crystallising in the orthorhombic system.
Which month is Topaz the birthstone for?
November.
Where does Topaz come from?
Brazil, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka.
How do I clean Topaz?
Warm soapy water only. No ultrasonic and no steam: topaz has perfect basal cleavage and can split along it.
How can I tell if Topaz is real?
Nearly all blue topaz began as colourless stone that was irradiated and heated. That is standard and legal, but it makes any claim of natural blue topaz worth questioning.
Can I wear it every day?
At 8 on the Mohs scale, yes — it resists everyday scratching.