By definition, London Blue topaz is a topaz stone that has a very specific, inky shade of blue. It’s darker than regular topaz but lighter than a sapphire. In fact, the colour is best described as a halfway point between the two. The topaz stone is composed of fluorinated aluminium silicate.
Similarly one may ask, does London blue topaz fade?
London Blue Topaz is generally brown or colorless material that’s been irradiated and then heat treated to obtain the dark blue, which does not occur in nature. Fortunately, this is a permanent color change, so you don’t have to worry about the color fading over time.
Also to know is, how can I tell if my topaz stone is real?
There are a few easy ways to tell a real topaz apart from quartz. The first characteristic to keep in mind is the hardness factor. An original topaz will scratch glass while quartz will not leave a mark on it. Moreover, a real topaz is also cool to touch and it gets electrified easily.
How can you tell if a London blue topaz is real?
Tip #1: Look at the stone’s clarity
As they are heat-treated, most of the blue topazes available today are eye-clean, which means they do not have inclusions visible to the naked eye. As such, if you notice any scratches, cracks, dots or tiny fractures on the gem, then it may not be a real blue topaz.
How much do topaz rings cost?
Yellow and orange topaz engagement rings are usually priced around $20.00 – $30.00 per carat for sizes less than 5 carats; topaz gemstones of these colors over 5 carats are on average around $60.00 – $80.00 per carat.
Is citrine the same as topaz?
Citrine (quartz family) and topaz are actually unrelated mineral species. Topaz belongs to the silicate mineral family, not quartz. Before these differences were clear, many cultures called citrine (the yellow variety of quartz) by other names like gold topaz, Madeira or Spanish topaz—contributing to the confusion.
Is London topaz rare?
Blue gemstones with good hardness and brilliance tend to be rare and fairly expensive. This is especially true of the darker blue gems, such as sapphire, tanzanite and spinel.
Is topaz more expensive than diamonds?
Diamonds represent, among other things, strength, determination, everlasting love and faithfulness. Topaz is a commonly found, affordable semi-precious gemstone. It is a granite rock formed from silicate minerals of aluminum and flourine. Topaz comes in many colors.
Is topaz precious or semiprecious?
Many semi-precious stones are rarer than precious stones. The term “semi-precious stones” does not mean that they are less beautiful than precious stones. The best known of these are amethyst, topaz, peridot, citrine, aquamarine or green tourmaline.
What birthstone is London blue topaz?
December’s birthstone, the blue topaz, shows the true range of blue beauty. The gemstone comes in all kinds of blues — light tones like sky blue and Swiss blue, and dark tones like London blue. Blue topazes are especially unique because they are pleochroic. This means the gemstone’s color changes as it moves in light.
What is the difference between blue topaz and London blue topaz?
Swiss Blue and London Blue
These are known as “Swiss Blue” and “London Blue” topaz. Swiss Blue is a bright blue topaz with a light tone and light to moderate saturation. London Blue is a dark blue topaz with a moderate to dark tone and saturation. These two colors give jewelry buyers a choice of two blue colors.
What is the rarest color of topaz?
The traditional November birthstone, topaz is a popular gem. Although frequently associated with golden yellow as well as blue, it can be found in a variety of colors, including colorless. The rarest are natural pink, red, and fine golden orange, sometimes with a pink tone.
Why is imperial topaz so expensive?
Imperial topaz is also known as “precious topaz”. It is the most sought after natural topaz. … This is because the tsars claimed exclusive rights to the pink topaz gemstones that were mined in Russia. Imperial topaz is less common than other types of naturally occurring topaz, which makes it more valuable.