About this object

Until the 1950s, topaz was known almost exclusively as a yellow to golden gemstone.  But since then, the routine radiation and heat treatment of pale-colored topaz to turn it deep blue has changed the public’s perception of this gem.  To most people today, topaz is recognized primarily as an affordable blue gemstone.  The highly prized imperial topaz is intense golden to reddish-orange in color.  More commonly topaz is colorless to pale blue or yellow.  Pink or red stones are rare, although pink stones can be produced by heating the golden brown topaz from Ouro Preto, Brazil.  The topaz gems pictured here exhibit the range of colors and are from Russia, Texas, Japan, Madagascar, and Brazil, weighing 18 to 816 carats.