A look at the topaz

November has arrived. For many people, that means straightening out Thanksgiving plans and breaking winter clothes out of storage. But in the gemstone world, November is the month of the topaz. This gem, available in a variety of colors, is valuable and unique for many reasons. Here's a look at this month's mineral:

Marking time

Although topaz is indeed the birthstone for November, it is also the stone for December. The difference lies in which type of topaz. Known for its yellow color, the precious topaz is reserved for November, which is perfect as the color is reminiscent of the leaves of the season. December, with its ice and snow, gets the blue topaz. This variety of the gem is also reserved for fourth anniversaries. Imperial topaz, which can range in hue from orange, to pink, to red, to purple, is used the celebrate the 23rd anniversary.

Lore

The name of the topaz has roots in both ancient Greek and Sanskrit. This gem has long been a symbol of strength and protection. Ancient Greeks believed that wearing topaz would increase their strength, while Europeans during the Renaissance thought the gem would break spells. In India, wearing topaz over the heart was said to assure long life, beauty, and intelligence. You can model your custom jewelry design on one of these ancient amulets.

Causes of color

As you've probably noticed, topaz comes in a variety of colors. This feature makes it a great candidate for any number of custom jewelry designs. The interesting thing is that impurities in topaz are partially responsible for its color. This defines topaz as an allochromatic​ gem. Yellow, brown and blue hues are present when imperfections occur at the atomic level.The presence of the element chromium gives topaz its pink, red, and violet-to-purple colors.

Topaz are also pleochroic. This means that the gem displays different colors in different directions.

Cuts

Because topaz crystals are typically columnar, they tend to be cut in long shapes, as this allows for a higher yield. Yield refers to the number of gems that can be cut from a single chunk of crystal. A high yield means more gems were cut. Pear or oval are the most common. When designing custom jewelry that incorporates topaz, remember this feature and choose a long cut. When the gem is polished, topaz feels slippery to the touch.

Weight

Topaz is also unique because of its weight. These gems are very large when formed and are thus weighed in kilos rather than carats. One of the most amazing topaz discoveries occurred in Brazil. A transparent crystal there weighted an unheard of 271 kilos, or 596 pounds.