Imperial Topaz: Better Than Precious
Imperial topaz is one of the most valuable types of topaz gemstones. In addition to being a beautiful gemstone, many people through the years have held the belief that imperial topaz, like many other topaz stones, has the power to reduce insomnia and asthma. Also, as a member of the topaz family, imperial topaz is acceptable as a gift for those celebrating their 4th, 19th, or 23rd wedding anniversary.
Imperial topaz has a rich, golden orange/red, somewhat reddish hue, or pink overtone. Natural pink imperial topaz has been found in Pakistan and Russia. When imperial topaz was first found in Russia, only the czar and his family had ownership rights. The majority of the world’s supply of natural non-pink imperial topaz comes from Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Topaz that is colored yellow, peach, orange, or brown is known as precious topaz. Sometimes yellow or light brown topaz is heat treated, or irradiated, to achieve a pink color or a deeper, richer color. Natural imperial topaz should have a higher price than irradiated topaz, so be sure to ask your dealer if the imperial topaz you are purchasing is truly natural and without any heat treatments.
While natural imperial topaz has only been found in a few places, topaz gemstones have been discovered in many parts of the world. Tasmania, Africa, United States, Sri Lanka, Japan, Australia, Mexico, and Myanmar have all produced varieties of the topaz gemstone.
As is the case with all topaz gemstones, imperial topaz has a hardness of 8.0 on the Mohs scale. Even though this is a tough stone, a direct hard hit should be avoided and will cause the imperial topaz gemstone to split. It is also advisable to avoid ultrasonic or steam cleaning, prolonged exposure to bright light, and sudden, drastic temperature changes.
Metaphysically, imperial topaz has been said to instill confidence and draw love to its wearer. It enables a person to control emotions and sleep better. Many people as far back as the Middle Ages have believed imperial topaz protects against diseases and untimely death.
Ancient Egyptians wore topaz to prevent injury. The Romans believed topaz enhanced their vision. The Greeks believed the topaz gemstone made them stronger and invisible. Everyone agrees, though, imperial topaz is a beautiful gemstone that will certainly enhance anyone’s wardrobe.
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