Topaz
Hardness: 8 (Mohs scale)
Density: 3.-3.6g/cm³
Refractive index: 1.61-1.64
Similarly as quartz, we can often find topazes in jewelry not only in their natural form, but also in thermally or radiation-treated variants, which allows a change in their color. However, in nature we can find beautiful pink, yellow, orange-brown, pale blue or colorless topazes.
It got its name from the island of Topazios in the Red Sea, even though it was not directly mined there.
Chemically, it belongs to the group of neosilicates and its close relatives include kyanite.
As already indicated, in nature it is most often found as a clear, "white" stone or in its light blue variant.
The color of topaz is due to impurities and defects in its crystal structure, giving us, for example, the so-called imperial topaz with a beautiful golden or brown-orange color. Pink topaz is sometimes called Brazilian ruby.
Blue topazes are probably the best known varieties of this stone today. Their color is rarely completely natural - most often controlled irradiation is used to achieve all three standard shades.
Sky Blue is the name for the lightest of the blue shades, specifically for a very light blue.
On the other hand, Swiss Blue with its radiant shade can be compared to the color of Alpine lakes.
The darkest shade is London Blue with a dignified, almost aristocratic color. This type of topaz is also used for the XXX ring with topazes from the Euphoria collection.
Topaz was sometimes believed to cure mental disorders, while the Romans used it as a protective talisman when travelling. It is generally considered a stone of harmony and balance, which has a positive effect on the nervous system. Blue topazes are associated with patience and the ability to detach, as well as with spiritual development. Imperial topaz is associated with the solar chakra as protection against depression and exhaustion and helps to translate the idea that "everything bad is good for something" into reality. According to Vedic astrology, yellow topaz has a positive effect on the home and family relationships, as well as on career and academic performance, and pink topaz, like other pink stones, is mainly associated with love.