Topaz Full Guide

The color of the Topaz

In its natural state, the topaz has a wide range of colors, including green, yellow, pink and purple, but it is also commonly found in a colorless state

However, the most famous colors for the Topaz are the following three shades of blue called:

• Sky Blue: as its name indicates has a light blue color reminiscent of the sky
• Swiss Blue: the color is more intense than the Sky Blue, more electric
• London Blue: it is a darker shade from the aforementioned Sky and Swiss Blue, and often has a greenish tint.

To obtain such colors, colorless topazes will go through irradiation, which will turn them brown, then heat to give them the blue color.

Another famous color is the Imperial Topaz, a reddish orange shade that can occur naturally but is very rare. Imperial Topazes are only found in Brazil.

Discover our Guide on the Colors of Gemstones.

Cut & Shapes

Due to the pleochroism of topazes, the direction in which the stone is cut from the rough is very important, as it is what determines its final color. Topaz naturally forms in large crystals, which allows to cut larger stones. It is not rare to find topazes of different colors over 10 carats

On the jewelry market, Topazes can be found in the standard round shape, oval shape or pear shape, but it is also appreciated in more Art-Deco styles such as the cushion cut when the stone is larger.