Topaz

In the grand tapestry of history, the Egyptians held that topaz bore the golden radiance of the sun god. A mystical legacy surrounds topaz, with beliefs that it could dispel enchantments and enhance vision. The ancient Greeks, in their lore, ascribed to it the power to fortify one's strength and render the wearer invisible during moments of peril. Early excavations in Brazil unearthed topaz in a rich spectrum, from reddish cognac to vibrant pinks, gracing the jewelry of Russian Czarinas in the 18th and 19th centuries, thus earning the esteemed title of "Imperial Topaz."

Unearthed in the early 18th century, the topaz from Ouro Prêto in Brazil continues to reign as the primary and most prestigious source for both precious and imperial topaz. The hues are likened to the colors of a setting sun, manifesting in yellows, pinks, reds, lavender-pinks, and peach-pinks. These gemstones may also reveal dichroism, displaying multiple colors, often with deeper shades concentrated at the gemstone's ends, contingent on the facets and overall shape post-cutting. Regarded as a genuine collector's gem, large-sized topaz specimens are exceedingly rare, in stark contrast to the far more common and frequently irradiated blue topaz.

Topaz claims its place as the birthstone for November, while Imperial Topaz stands as the designated gift for the 23rd wedding anniversary.