6.44 cts Natural Oval-cut Sparkling Swiss Blue VVS Topaz

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Seller: captej2012 ✉️ (874) 100%, Location: Canyon Country, California, US, Ships to: WORLDWIDE & many other countries, Item: 283428217067 6.44 cts Natural Oval-cut Sparkling Swiss Blue VVS Topaz.

6.44 cts Natural Oval-cut Sparkling Swiss Blue VVS Topaz

New without Tags.  This gem has never been used/placed/set in a setting. It is utterly undamaged, unmarred and in perfect condition as expected of NWOTags.

I have included Topaz articles below for your appreciation and enjoyment.

Summary of below: "Topaz is often enhanced to produce the most desirable colours. The most popular colour for topaz is blue, but in nature, blue topaz is usually pale blue rather than bright or deep blue. The brilliant blue shades of topaz are usually achieved by artificial means. Topaz is exposed to radiation (a process known as irradiation) and then usually heated, to produce striking blue colours. A deep blue enhanced topaz is known as "London blue"; medium blue is called "Swiss blue" and light-blue is termed "sky blue". This blue colour treatment is usually performed on greyish-blue or silver-grey gemstones. The darker blue shades are more valuable because more energy is needed to produce darker colours. "

Type:  Natural Blue Topaz  (personally confirmed as Genuine Topaz by digital refractometer (RI=1.592), dichroscope, polariscope, spectroscope, UV short&long-wave light, measured Specific Gravity=3.54) -- captej2012

Color:  Swiss Blue

Shape:  Oval

Dimension:  11.90mm x 9.98mm x 7.02mm

Weight:  6.44 cts

Hardness:  8.0 rating on the Mohs Scale

Luster:  Stunning Fire

Clarity:  VVS

Treatment:  Irradiated  (if not Irradiated, it wouldn't be Swiss-Blue and you wouldn't want it)

Origin:  Africa

I visited the Glaciers while working in Alaska, And marveled at the deep blue of its ancient ice. Thereafter this Swiss Blue Topaz was sought for The Blue of Glaciers that is Clear Comforting and Eternal. Though Glaciers are imperceptibly yet perpetually in-motion, We have frozen in this gem the essence of the same Blue. Because thoughts are symbols, symbols comprise our reality. Would a Swiss Blue Topaz symbolize something for you?

We are now an eBay eStore enterprise focused on selling mostly Loose Natural Gemstones.  Stay here, look around and learn.  Via eBay Messaging, ask us questions, make an offer, and otherwise discuss your wishes, concerns and hopes.  We pride ourselves as good-spirited folks having fun and doing our best to share the joy of Nature's most beautiful and enduring literal treasure -- Natural Gemstones.  Expect to find us cheerful and trustworthy, and we will expect the same of you.  For us, Negative FeedBack as a means of coercion is never needed and only degrades everyone's enjoyment in what should otherwise be a fun shopping experience.          And finally, please enjoy my work as eBay's First (unofficial) Gemstone Poet.  --  captej2012

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From URL:  http://www.gemselect.com/gem-info/topaz/topaz-info.php

Topaz Gemstone Information About Topaz - History and Introduction

Topaz is an aluminium silicate that contains fluorine and hydroxyl. In its pure form it is colourless (white). Impurities are what cause variations in colour . Topaz has a history that goes back at least two thousand years. The use of topaz goes back to Egyptian times when the ancient Egyptians believed that yellow topaz received its golden hue from the Sun God, Ra. Some believe that "topaz" is a Middle English word, which was acquired from the Old French word "Topace" and Latin "Topazus", the root of which is in the Greek word "Topazios" or "Topazion"; the ancient name of an island in The Red Sea where the ancient Greeks mined a yellow gem that they believed to be topaz. The name of the island means "to seek" in Greek. It could have been so named because it was difficult to find amongst the mist. This island is now known as "Zabargad" or "St John's Island", and it is thought that the gem mined by the ancient Greeks was actually "chrysolite" . The Christian Old Testament makes references to topaz, but this gemstone may have also been "chrysolite", rather than topaz. The word "topaz" could also have stemmed from the Sanskrit (the ancient language of India) word, "tapas", which means "fire".

Identifying Topaz

Topaz can be distinguished from diamond , ruby , sapphire , citrine, apatite, brazilianite, zircon, fluorite, kunzite, tourmaline and orthoclase by its hardness (8 on the Mohs scale). It can be told apart from aquamarine by its orthorhombic crystal structure. Phenakite can be distinguished from topaz by its trigonal crystal structure. Spinel can be identified from topaz by its cubic crystal structure. Topaz has a lower density and different chemical composition than chrysoberyl, and chrysoberyl usually has no fluorescence, whereas topaz has some weak fluorescence, which can help to distinguish between the two. Precious beryl can be mistaken for topaz, but has indistinct cleavage, whereas topaz displays perfect cleavage. A lot of other less valuable gems are misleadingly sold as "topaz", such as Madeira topaz, occidental topaz, Palmeira topaz, Rio topaz, saffranite topaz, Scottish topaz, smoky topaz  and Spanish topaz. However, in most cases, these gems are citrine quartz, with the exception of smoky topaz, which is smoky quartz. Indian topaz, king topaz and star topaz are all actually sapphire. Diamond has a Mohs scale hardness score of 10, so it differs from white topaz in this respect. Topaz is softer than ruby and sapphire, which both have a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. Topaz also exhibits pleochroism, which is the appearance of several colors in a single stone depending on the viewing angle. Most other similar gemstones do not typically exhibit pleochroism.

Topaz; Origin and Gemstone Sources

Deposits of topaz have been found in Brazil, Afghanistan, Australia, Myanmar (Burma), China, Germany, Japan, Madagascar, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and the USA. Natural light-blue topaz is found in Northern Ireland and the UK. Enormous topaz crystals have been discovered in Minas Gerais (Brazil) and Ukraine.

Buying Topaz and Determining Topaz Gemstone Value

Topaz Colour

Topaz ranges from colourless (white) to yellow, orange, red-brown, light to dark-blue, pink to red, violet and light-green. This is the reason why it can be mistaken for many other gemstones. Naturally coloured topaz gets its colour from iron and chromium; the impurities cause colour, whereas pure topaz is colourless. Most unadulterated topaz is colourless or pale blue. The most rare and valuable topaz is yellow, or pink to reddish-orange, and is known as "imperial topaz " or "precious topaz". Some yellowish-brown topaz gems can gradually fade when continually exposed to daylight. Red and violet topaz is incredibly rare. A lot of topaz is treated in order to enhance the colour. Reputable gem sellers declare any enhancements.

Topaz Clarity and Lustre

Topaz is transparent to translucent. It exhibits high clarity with few inclusions, so topaz gemstones can be examined by the naked eye and found to be "eye clean", which means that no imperfections can be seen. Topaz is highly prized for its brilliance and vitreous (glassy) lustre.

Topaz Cut and Shape

Topaz is a very versatile material. Therefore it can be cut into a great variety of shapes, such as square, round, octagon, pear, oval, heart and even fancy shapes such as fish or birds. Strongly coloured gemstones are usually scissor cut whereas weakly coloured stones are generally brilliantly cut. The facets show off the clarity and brilliance of the gem. When topaz has irregular inclusions, it is often cabochon cut. Its hardness makes it resistant to scratches. However, lapidarists must handle topaz carefully, due to its perfect cleavage, which means that it can easily fracture.

Topaz Treatment

Topaz is often enhanced to produce the most desirable colours. The most popular colour for topaz is blue, but in nature, blue topaz is usually pale blue rather than bright or deep blue. The brilliant blue shades of topaz are usually achieved by artificial means. Topaz is exposed to radiation (a process known as irradiation) and then usually heated, to produce striking blue colours. A deep blue enhanced topaz is known as "London blue"; medium blue is called "Swiss blue" and light-blue is termed "sky blue". This blue colour treatment is usually performed on greyish-blue or silver-grey gemstones. The darker blue shades are more valuable because more energy is needed to produce darker colours. Orange-brown topaz is heat-treated during a process known as "pinking", which produces a purplish-pink colour. These processes are widely accepted, since they result in permanent colour change, however, they should be declared by traders. There are strict rules regarding the handling of irradiated gemstones, to ensure the safety of gem handlers and buyers. Naturally pink topaz is rare and is usually a pale shade of pink. It occurs in Pakistan.

A thin coating of titanium dioxide vapour can be applied to topaz stones. Topaz can also be coated to change its colour. Coatings are not permanent and can gradually fade over time. Stones that have been treated in this way should not be re-cut, since the coating will be taken off and reveal a different, undesirable colour inside. Coating treatment produces iridescent stones known as "mystic topaz". Azotic topaz is white topaz that has been colour-enhanced by coating it with a thin film which gives it rainbow colours. It is named after the company that patented the Azotic process. Topaz is also coated to produce vivid pink and imitation "imperial topaz". White topaz can also be exposed to diffusion treatment, which means that it is exposed to chemicals and heat, to change the surface colour. This treatment is performed to produce "green topaz", but the treatment only changes the surface colour, so that if the gem is re-cut, the original, undesirable colour will be revealed. As with irradiation, any surface treatments or coatings are declared by reputable gem sellers. Natural topaz can also be found.

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About Blue Topaz

According to a well-known industry magazine, Colored Stone , blue topaz has become the 2nd most popular colored gemstone (sapphire is consistently number one).

This is not surprising. Topaz is a very hard material -- 8 on the Mohs hardness scale -- and blue topaz is a very pretty stone, available in a wide range of vivid hues with a striking vitreous luster . It is also a very affordable gem; we are usually able to sell it at prices under $6.00 a carat. If you compare that to the cost of aquamarine it makes blue topaz a tremendous value gemstone.

At the same time, blue topaz is a gem that is not well understood by many buyers, and some recent controversy in the USA has led some buyers to rethink their blue topaz purchases. But this is a case where a little knowledge will go a long way.

There are two important things to know about blue topaz. The first thing is that while topaz is very hard, it is not the most durable gemstone. That's because it has perfect cleavage , a property it shares with diamond . That means it can be chipped or split by a sharp blow, so it should be protected from hard knocks.

Click here to enlarge photo Sky Blue Topaz

The second important thing is that topaz does not occur naturally in the deeply saturated blues you find in the market today. Blue topaz in nature is very rare indeed, and tends to a very pale blue. The vivid blues available in the market have all been produced by treating white topaz -- first with irradiation , then with heat . The color change is permanent and stable, but recently there has been some controversy about the safety of this treatment for the consumer.

There are 2 different irradiation methods used to produce blue topaz . One method, used to produce the lighter blue known as Sky Blue, uses gamma rays from Cobalt 60 sources or (more commonly) electrons produced by a linear accelerator, followed by heat treatment . The darker blue tones, known by the names Swiss Blue and London Blue, are achieved by bombardment from electrons produced in a nuclear reactor, followed by heat treatment.

Because of residual radioactivity, the irradiated topaz must be held in a secure facility for a period of time before it can be released for heating, cutting and polishing. The time varies from a few weeks for topaz irradiated in a linear accelerator to a few months for topaz irradiated in a nuclear reactor. There are very strict rules in place to protect not only consumers but also the cutters and gem dealers who handle these gems on a daily basis.

In July of 2007 the American Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) reminded the gemstone and jewelry industry that current regulations require the initial importer of nuclear irradiated gems to be licensed by the NRC. Because there are currently no companies licensed by the NRC to import irradiated gems, several large jewelry chains in the US decided to remove blue topaz from their shelves since they could not assure the public that these gemstones were completely safe.

In August 2007 the NRC themselves tested 9 batches of irradiated blue topaz averaging 500 carats each and found that the topaz posed no health risk. They issued a Fact Sheet on Irradiated Gemstones to assure the public that these gemstones were quite safe. The NRC is now working with the industry to put a testing system in place that will include topaz treated in linear accelerators as well as those treated in nuclear reactors. Anything that can be done to assure the market that this very popular gemstone is safe is worth doing. But recent events have shown that there is not much ground for concern.

 

  • Condition: New without tags
  • Condition: Topaz is often enhanced to produce the most desirable colours. The most popular colour for topaz is blue, but in nature, blue topaz is usually pale blue rather than bright or deep blue. The brilliant blue shades of topaz are usually achieved by artificial means. Topaz is exposed to radiation (a process known as irradiation) and then usually heated, to produce striking blue colours. A deep blue enhanced topaz is known as "London blue"; medium blue is called "Swiss blue" and light-blue is termed "sky blue". This blue colour treatment is usually performed on greyish-blue or silver-grey gemstones. The darker blue shades are more valuable because more energy is needed to produce darker colours.
  • Total Carat Weight (TCW): 6.44 cts
  • Variety/Type: Blue
  • Shape: Oval
  • Length: 11.90mm
  • Width: 9.98mm
  • Depth: 7.02mm
  • Treatment: Irradiation
  • Natural/Lab-Created: Natural
  • Color: Swiss Blue
  • Gemstone Type: Topaz

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