Enhancements to Topaz

Various Treatments to Enhance the Color of Topaz

Until the middle of the Twentieth Century, topaz had been generally known as a gemstone with a range of amber color values, even though other valuable colors had been found in smaller quantities here and there. Hence the reference to the Autumn leaves and open fires of November in the Topaz home page. Sometime in the 1950's though miners and gemstone dealers began to treat pale topaz stones by combining radiation and heat to change the color to a desirable blue. Soon, people discovered that other colors could be coaxed out of rough topaz crystals. As an instance, Golden Brown Topaz from Ouro Treto, Brazil, can be converted to a pretty pink by heating.

Below, I have listed some of the treatments used on topaz to enhance its color as well as the stability you might reasonably expect. For such information I rely primarily on the American Gem Society.

There has been some concern about the safely of irradiated Topaz so that such irradiation is now restricted to certain laboratories before it can be sold in the United States.

Enhancements Techniques for Topaz

Blue

Irradiation
Heating
*Usually done

Excellent stability

Use normal care

Yellow/Orange

Irradiation to
intensify color

*used occasionally

Stability variable

Specific care required:
avoid sunlight

Pink/Red

Heating of
chrome bearing
pinkish brown to
orange stones

*Usually done

Excellent stability

Normal care

Brown

No enhancement

Special care

May fade when exposed to sunlight

Green

Usually

*Poor Stability

Extra special care needed.

Will fade in the sunlight.

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