The name topaz is derived from the Greek “topazos”, which means "to seek," which was the name of an island in the Red Sea that was difficult to find. Topaz comes in variety of colors out of which yellow topaz and pink topaz are known to be the most valuable of all colors of topaz. Pink topaz is rare and mostly pink topaz is heated to turn it into yellow topaz. Most of the colorless topaz is heated or irradiated to give it a range of blue color, which looks extremely similar to aquamarine and the similarity is such that it becomes difficult to distinguish them with the naked eyes. A latest trend in jewelry is the manufacture of topaz specimens that display iridescent colors, by applying a thin layer of titanium oxide via physical vapor deposition.

Locations:

Topaz is found in USA, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Burma, Australia, Tasmania, the former USSR, Pakistan, Japan, Mexico and Africa. Pink Topaz comes from Pakistan, Brazil and Russia.

Chemical Composition: Aluminum Fluorohydroxysilicate
Crystal Structure: Orthorhombic
Hardness: 8
Specific Gravity: 3.54
Refractive Index: 1.62-1.63
Colors: Colorless, yellow, red-brown, light blue, pinky red and pale green.
Luster: Vitreous

Astrological Relevance:

Topaz is considered to be one of the birthstones for the month of November, which covers two zodiac signs: Scorpio (October 23 To November 21) and Sagittarius (November 21 To December 21).