Origins of Blue Topaz - By: John Brana

It can be as blue as the Whatever it's color, Blue Topaz is a popular gemstone and not only makes stunning jewelry, but additionally has a variety of interesting legends. Blue Topaz is a quartz crystal, and like most topazes, starts out as being nearly clear. The clear quartz crystals are irradiated to prolong the blue hues, then heat treated to seal in the color. The hue of blue depends on the sort of radiation exposed to the quartz crystals.

Bombarding topazes with neutrons in a nuclear accelerator changes the color to the deep green-blue or grey-blue called London Blue Topaz. Sky Blue Topaz (the foremost common color of Blue Topaz) is produced by exposing the quartz crystals to electrons in a linear accelerator. To create the highly saturated colors called Swiss Blue or Electric Blue, topazes are bathed with a combination of both varieties of radiation. After virtually a year of "rest," the radiation levels are cool enough so that they will be worn by consumers.

Due to its abundance, there is really no incentive to produce synthetic stones. Mystic Blue Topaz is formed by vapor coating quartz crystals with titanium particals to produce a rainbow coloration of red, green, and teal hues. Unfortunately, this treatment isn't permanent, and the coating is very fragile, thus the stones must be handled very gently. Although Blue Topaz features a very unusual With a score of 8 on the Moh's Scale of gemstone hardness, Blue Topaz finds its way into several engaging pieces of jewelry.

In mystical and New Age healing beliefs, Blue Topaz carries the identical healing properties as all varieties of topaz: regulates heart action, promotes glandular health, stops bleeding and reduces fever and inflammations like arthritis. The color of Blue Topaz is usually considered to help clarity of the mind, aid in meditation and forgiveness. Its calm blue quality is alleged to assist its wearers unharness their anger, particularly from old hurts, fostering forgiveness and reconciliation that results in a calmer, fuller life.

What's the difference between Blue Topaz, London Blue Topaz, Swiss Blue Topaz, and Mystic Topaz? Learn how each is formed from the same quartz crystal.

Whether classic or modern, Handmade Blue Topaz Jewelry by San Francisco jewellery designer John S. Brana is intended to set the wearer apart from the crowd.