What do you dislike - topaz

[zeolite]

This will be a rambling series in response to “what do you dislike?” This is not to criticize anyone’s tastes or preferences. It will just show examples that might change your mind.

Topaz is commonly found all over the world. Almost always, the color is so pale, that it is better to call it an off white. It is commonly pastel blue, green or yellow. The intense blues in the gem market are natural topaz that has been irradiated and heated. Only in a rare two square mile area or so, in Ouro Preto Brazil, does natural topaz attain more intense colors. Pakistan also produces tiny amounts of pink and peach topaz.

The finest topaz from Ouro Preto can show some combination of pink, orange or red. These intense examples are called imperial topaz. The name came from some intense topaz that was found, and depleted, in Russia at the end of the 19th century. It was reserved only for the Russian Tsar and his family.

The finest imperial topaz is a fabulous gemstone, is exceedingly rare, and can surpass $2,000/ct, wholesale. While some malaia garnets can resemble imperial topaz, these garnets never attain the intense color of imperial topaz. When fine malaias (and I have several) are placed next to a top imperial topaz, the brown in the garnet (not obvious before), is instantly seen in comparison.

Topaz is quite hard and takes a wonderful polish. It appears much more brilliant than its relative low refractive index would suggest.

The gem below is 5.00 cts, in a step barrel cut. It is pictured on a pastel rose petal, shading from pink to white. This mimics the dichroism of imperial topaz, with the most intense color showing on the ends of the gem.

 

[klewis]

Will you also do a "What you dislike - Trilliant cut... please?

 

[T L]

So, Mr. Zeolite, I''m not sure if LD will still want to marry you after your post on topaz, but that sure is a beautiful stone. I bet it''s much more impressive in person. For all the heart shape haters, here''s a suite of heart shaped colored diamonds courtesy Arthur Langerman''s colored diamond collection.

 

[Lovinggems]

That''s a lovely specimen.

 

[LD]

D . I . V . O . R . C . E .

Need I say more?

 

[ma re]

Now, when it comes to topaz I don''t need convincing

Seriously, IMO even treated blue ones can look nice, and imperial topaz is to me personally one of the most fascinating gems overall. Of course, I''d need to sell a kidney (and a few other major organs) in order to buy one that I''d like, but they sure are nice to look at. Hell I''d even settle for one of those delicious looking mineral specimens... Imperials are probably the only stones with which I have difficulty describing certain colors - probably because my brain stops functioning when I see a really nice one.

 

[MAC-W]

Date: 1/1/2010 9:12:11 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
So, Mr. Zeolite, I''m not sure if LD will still want to marry you after your post on topaz, but that sure is a beautiful stone. I bet it''s much more impressive in person. For all the heart shape haters, here''s a suite of heart shaped colored diamonds courtesy Arthur Langerman''s colored diamond collection.

Impressive pic TL but - meh! still think they look twee.


Having said that would love to own that collection - so I could sell it off and buy really nice stones

 

[T L]

I think imperial topaz needs to be seen in person. Pictures never do it justice.

 

[movie zombie]

nice topaz, Z!

many just do not have an opportunity to see fine topaz: what most of us see is commercial for the masses [b&m''s, ebay, tv, etc]. nothing wrong with that and as i always say, there is something for every budget.

if only i had the budget to afford fine stones only! i don''t think there would be any that i would dislike!

mz

 

[mariedtiger]

Date: 1/2/2010 11:16:23 AM
Author: movie zombie



if only i had the budget to afford fine stones only! i don''t think there would be any that i would dislike!


mz

Me too!

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Lembeck used to have a gorgeous imperial topaz, a deep, well saturated orange-red topaz. Costs a kidney, but what a gem!

 

[zeolite]

Date: 1/1/2010 9:12:11 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
... that sure is a beautiful stone. I bet it''s much more impressive in person.

Yes, it is. This picture was an overcast day outdoor picture. Under incandescent lights, the color is more intense than shown here, with about the same red, but more intense orange also.

 

[zeolite]

Date: 1/2/2010 9:31:43 AM
Author: LovingDiamonds
D . I . V . O . R . C . E .

Need I say more?

Thank you, LD

 

[LD]

Date: 1/2/2010 3:36:05 PM
Author: zeolite

Date: 1/2/2010 9:31:43 AM
Author: LovingDiamonds
D . I . V . O . R . C . E .

Need I say more?

Thank you, LD

Seriously, I have a really bad aversion to Topaz (in any shape or form). For me, I just can''t get past that it is (normally) a cheap and nasty gemstone set into rubbish jewellery and, more often than not, coated. So it''s a bit like plastic IYKWIM. Don''t get me wrong, I appreciate that Imperial and natural Topaz are of a different quality altogether but it''s still Topaz! I''ve bought Imperial Topaz and other forms of Topaz in the past but I''ve normally sold them on or given them away. They''re just not "me"! They don''t make me go "oooooooooooooooooh". It''s the one gemstone that I just can''t abide. Soweeeeee!

 

[Michael_E]

Date: 1/1/2010 8:45:21 PM
Author:zeolite

The finest topaz from Ouro Preto can show some combination of pink, orange or red. These intense examples are called imperial topaz.

I remember an article in the GIA's periodical, "Gems and Gemology" from years ago which featured Ouro Preto and the topaz from there. Apparently a great deal of it is heated which removes the yellow component and turns the crystals pink. I doubt of they do it to top specimens anymore, since the unheated thing has become a big deal. Any this article about a field trip to the mines there is really neat and may be of interest to some here. It's kind of hard to tell from this picture what that crystal really looks like isn't it ?
Ouro Preto mines

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

I love Imperial Topaz but have seen liitle stuff that is great--but much I might think is precious.

Is that specimen shown in the first picture for sale--but more to the point, can I afford it?

cheers--Sharon

 

[zeolite]

Date: 1/2/2010 5:40:09 PM
Author: canuk-gal
HI:

I love Imperial Topaz but have seen liitle stuff that is great

cheers--Sharon

There might one stone in all of the Tucson gem shows in one year, that is of this color, and it would of commercial Brazil cutting, not of optimum angles and polish, like this one.

Is that specimen shown in the first picture for sale--but more to the point, can I afford it?

No, NFS. I would estimate that this color, but with commercial cutting, would sell for $10,000 wholesale, and retail, still commercial cut at a Tiffany's, perhaps at $26,000 for the gem and setting.

 

[zoebartlett]

Date: 1/1/2010 9:12:11 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
So, Mr. Zeolite, I''m not sure if LD will still want to marry you after your post on topaz, but that sure is a beautiful stone. I bet it''s much more impressive in person. For all the heart shape haters, here''s a suite of heart shaped colored diamonds courtesy Arthur Langerman''s colored diamond collection.

Okay, now I''m not a fan of heart shaped stones but I''ll admit those are pretty.

 

[chrono]

Date: 1/2/2010 11:16:23 AM
Author: movie zombie
nice topaz, Z!

many just do not have an opportunity to see fine topaz: what most of us see is commercial for the masses [b&m''s, ebay, tv, etc]. nothing wrong with that and as i always say, there is something for every budget.

if only i had the budget to afford fine stones only! i don''t think there would be any that i would dislike!

mz

MZ,
It''s so true. If I had an unlimited amount of $$$, I''d love the best of every kind of coloured gemstone. Topaz included but only the untreated sort like a rich pink or imperial.

 

[T L]

Date: 1/2/2010 11:14:49 PM
Author: Chrono

Date: 1/2/2010 11:16:23 AM
Author: movie zombie
nice topaz, Z!

many just do not have an opportunity to see fine topaz: what most of us see is commercial for the masses [b&m''s, ebay, tv, etc]. nothing wrong with that and as i always say, there is something for every budget.

if only i had the budget to afford fine stones only! i don''t think there would be any that i would dislike!

mz

MZ,
It''s so true. If I had an unlimited amount of $$$, I''d love the best of every kind of coloured gemstone. Topaz included but only the untreated sort like a rich pink or imperial.

Really Chrono???
I had you pegged as the coated mystic topaz type.

LOL!!

 

[chrono]

Date: 1/2/2010 11:17:03 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover

Really Chrono???
I had you pegged as the coated mystic topaz type.

LOL!!

Darn it, you must have spied my mystic topaz collection while I had my back turned.

 

[T L]

Date: 1/2/2010 11:18:34 PM
Author: Chrono

Date: 1/2/2010 11:17:03 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover

Really Chrono???
I had you pegged as the coated mystic topaz type.

LOL!!

Darn it, you must have spied my mystic topaz collection while I had my back turned.

. . . and I bet you got them all from gemstv!! I''m so jealous!!

 

[chrono]

Date: 1/2/2010 11:22:43 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover

Date: 1/2/2010 11:18:34 PM
Author: Chrono

Darn it, you must have spied my mystic topaz collection while I had my back turned.

. . . and I bet you got them all from gemstv!! I''m so jealous!!

But only because GemsTV said they are NATURAL stones.

 

[jstarfireb]

I like topaz, not quite as much as some other stones, but blue topaz in particular is inexpensive and pretty. I actually like some of the coated/treated topaz better than the natural stuff, and I have a mystic topaz set that is pretty enough to surprise a lot of people. I''m not really big on peachy pinks, so the Ouro Preto ones don''t do it for me...give me a nice London blue any day!

 

[blithesome71]

Wow, that step barrel cut imperial topaz is sooo lovely

I love natural blue topaz & been googling for ages for pakistan pink topaz. Though not much materials are available.

...I''ll obtain one someday *fingers-crossed* (hopefully)

 

[LD]

Date: 1/2/2010 11:26:37 PM
Author: Chrono

Date: 1/2/2010 11:22:43 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover

Date: 1/2/2010 11:18:34 PM
Author: Chrono

Darn it, you must have spied my mystic topaz collection while I had my back turned.

. . . and I bet you got them all from gemstv!! I'm so jealous!!

But only because GemsTV said they are NATURAL stones.

WHAT? They're not NATURAL? They're coated????? You mean they don't come out of the earth all mystic????? Oh no. Throws away entire collection .........................

 

[Indylady]

Date: 1/3/2010 5:50:18 AM
Author: blithesome71
Wow, that step barrel cut imperial topaz is sooo lovely

I love natural blue topaz & been googling for ages for pakistan pink topaz. Though not much materials are available.


...I''ll obtain one someday *fingers-crossed* (hopefully)

Dan has a natural pink topaz I''ve been eyeing for some time. Its a funky size, but so beautiful.

 

[blithesome71]

Date: 1/3/2010 9:43:01 AM
Author: IndyLady

Date: 1/3/2010 5:50:18 AM
Author: blithesome71
Wow, that step barrel cut imperial topaz is sooo lovely

I love natural blue topaz & been googling for ages for pakistan pink topaz. Though not much materials are available.


...I''ll obtain one someday *fingers-crossed* (hopefully)

Dan has a natural pink topaz I''ve been eyeing for some time. Its a funky size, but so beautiful.

Dan stair or Dana (Mastercutgems)? Dana has one but the dimension doesn''t appeal to me. Nice price though