Generally thought of as blue, the variety of topaz colors includes colorless, light blue, yellow, orange, pink, violet, brown and, very rarely, red, but the most valuable topaz is the pinkish-orange Imperial Topaz. Blue, though very common on the market, is rarely found in nature. The majority of blue topaz is actually clear topaz that has been irradiated and heat treated to create the blue color. Clear topaz is also used to create “Mystic Topaz”. The rainbow effect of this variety of topaz is created by coating clear topaz with a thin artificial film. This film, although not affected by normal wear and tear, can be removed by abrasive cleaners or polishing wheels.

In Europe during the Renaissance (the period from the 1300s to the 1600s) people thought that topaz could break magic spells and dispel anger.

People on the island of Topazios and the rest of ancient Greece thought topaz brought them strength.

In India, where the word “tapaz” appears to have originated, people believed for centuries that a topaz worn above the heart assures long life, beauty, and intelligence.

The golden color of Imperial Topaz was interpreted by the Egyptians as the ‘glow cast by the sun god ‘Ra’. The topaz gemstone symbolizes friendship and enhanced one’s capacity to give and receive love.

The ancient Greeks believed that it had the power to increase one’s strength and make its wearer invisible in cases of emergency.

The Romans associated topaz with Jupiter, who is also the god of the sun. When worn as amulet, topaz was said to drive away sadness and strengthen the intellect. Mounted in gold and hung around the neck, it was believed to dispel bad charms. Reduced to powder and put in wine, topaz was a cure for insomnia, asthma, burns and hemorrhage. Topaz was also said to change its color in the presence of poisoned food or drink. All these mystical powers were believed to increase and decrease with the phases of the moon.