The Beautiful Gemstone Blue Topaz

Blue topaz has become one of the most popular gemstones on the market during the last years, this beautiful gemstone is known for of its color, clarity, durability, and affordable cost.

Blue is a shade of topaz that is rarely found in nature, so nearly all blue topazes used in jewelry has got their beautiful watery blue color as a result of that white topaz has been treated with a combination of irradiation first and then heating. When blue topaz occures naturaly it is a result of that the topaz crystals has been being exposed to natural radiation from the parent rocks over long periods of time, but the natural blue topaz is always very pale and rarely attractive enough for use in jewelry.

Blue topaz has a clear, homogenous color ranging from light blue to dark blue. The shades is a result of the treatment methods used, and there are standardized three basic color shades of blue topaz, ranging from light to dark blue, these are: Sky blue, Swiss blue, and London blue.

Blue Topaz is sometimes mistaken as the more costly aquamarine, yet whereas aquamarine typically has a greenish blue or bluish green tint, blue topaz will normally look blue or bluish gray. However, an exception to this is when the topaz is surface enhanced,  a process that enhances the stone's appearance and brings out colors such as blue to greenish to emerald green.

Blue topaz looks beautiful when set in rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and pendants, and blue topaz jewelry looks magnificent with almost any outfit. Blue topaz goes very well with white metals like sterling silver, white gold or platinum, and the combination of blue topaz stones and white gold is very popular. However, blue topaz combined with yellow gold looks marvelous too and is not unusual at all.

Blue Topaz is the birth stone for the month of December, and is recommended as the gemstone for couples celebrating their 4th wedding anniversary, it is also the official gemstone of the U.S. state of  Texas.

There are many imitations available in the market, so when you buy blue topaz jewelry, you should be careful and only buy from trusted dealers that can guarantee the genuinity of the stone.

Because blue topaz get its color as a result of a irradiation process, the production of blue topaz gemstones is underlaid strict regulations and guidelines from the federal authorities, you should however always ensure that the blue topaz you are buying complies with U.S. regulations on irradiation.

With A ranking of 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, blue topaz is exceptionally strong and durable and well suited to everyday wear. However, it should be protected against hard blows that can split, crack or chip it.