Origins of Blue Topaz

Blue Topaz can be found in sky blue, greenish blue, or an "electric" blue. Whatever it's color, Blue Topaz is a popular gemstone and not only makes beautiful jewelry, but also 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 draw out the blue hues, then heat treated to seal in the color. The color depends on which type of radiation is used.

Exposing the topaz crystals to neutrons in a nuclear accelerator transforms the color into a deep bluish-green or bluish-gray color commonly referred to as London Blue Topaz. Exposing the topaz crystals to electrons in a linear accelerator produces the most common color of Blue Topaz - Sky Blue Topaz. To produce Swiss Blue or Electric Blue Topaz, the quartz is bathed in a combination of both kinds of radiation. After a one year cooling off period, the radiation levels are safe enough to allow the Topaz to be worn by consumers.

Most blue topaz has a modest value, so there's little incentive for gemologists to create synthetic versions of the gem. Instead, they use various vapor or diffusion coatings (mainly titanium) to create the "mystic" Blue Topaz, a version that sparkles with red, sea green and teal colors. Unfortunately, this treatment isn't permanent, and the coating is extremely fragile, so the stones must be handled very gently.

Even though Blue Topaz has a very unusual production technique, it performs wonderfully as a gemstone because it polishes up beatifully and has a very high refractive index. Blue Topaz makes a great durable gemstone, since it has a Moh's Scale of 8.

Blue Topaz is said to aid in the regulation of the heart, promotes glandular health, reduces fever and inflammations such as arthritis. On the other hand, the color of Blue Topaz is said to aid in meditation, discernment, and forgiveness. The calming effect of its blue color is believed to help its wearers let go of their anger and fosters forgiveness and reconciliation that leads a calmer and more fulfilling life.