Topaz is a lustrous, brilliant, semi-precious gemstone that makes numerous gifts including
necklaces, wedding rings, engagement rings, and everyday beauty rings given that it’s strong and durable. Topaz in its natural form is transparent and colorless; but sometimes very light blue, light gray, brown, and light yellow can be found in their natural forms. More often, the products you’ll find in most cosmetic shops are enhanced to bring out variations of beautiful colors. In general, November’s birthstones are perfect colors for Thanksgiving cornucopia and may include colors such as burnt orange, crimson, or turning-foliage-green; a blue Topaz provides a great gift for December.
Purchasing the right topaz gift may not be a piece of cake given the myriad of colors, quality levels, and designs available on the market. But don’t worry. We’ve put together this informative guide to help you navigate the maze of options and choose the best-quality topaz within your budget. And these gifts are not exclusively for lovers, as you can give it as a
gift for mom and make her Thanksgiving a memorable one.
Most people use topaz gifts as a gift for four-year wedding anniversaries, but you can also use these gifts at pretty much every time of the year by purchasing a beautiful topaz
bracelet. The November’s birthstone, people believe that topaz is a true gift from the sun. In fact, some people believe it’s filled with healing properties and is traditionally used as an odd anniversary gift on the 13th and 17th years. It represents some great human qualities such as creativity, loyalty, prosperity, and peace.
Now, when shopping for a topaz gift, you’ll hear enticing names such as golden topaz, smoky topaz, gold topaz, Brazilian topaz, Madeira topaz, Citrine topaz, and so on. Although these products have the term “topaz” in them, most of them are heat-treated citrine gemstones that, on average, have a lower price value than the original topaz. If you’re not aware of this, you might end up paying higher prices thinking that you’re actually buying topaz gemstones.
One more word! Consider topaz gifts with a refund policy, and if you doubt the quality and authenticity of the product you’ve purchased, get it evaluated by an independent local jeweler or a certified gemologist.
With that said, it’s time to delve deeper into the features that make up a great topaz gift before you dive into our individual reviews. Read on!
Price
Although Topaz is generally an inexpensive stone, it’s among the most durable materials you can find in the cosmetic industry. It has a hardness grade of 8 Mohs scale, which closely compares to diamond, the most durable stone that exists in nature, with a strength of 10.
The price of topaz gifts will vary depending on the type, size, design, as well as color. Blue topaz is a gorgeous piece that lasts a lifetime and may cost a little more than other stones with higher impurity levels. With a budget of between $8 and $23, you should get a great-quality topaz gift to surprise your loved ones.
Further, always figure in the delivery cost before you swipe that credit card. Some manufacturers will incorporate an extra cost for insurance covers when shipping more-expensive purchases. You’ll still find very cheap topaz gifts out there, but be careful with what you spend your money on as some of them may just be heat-treated citrine gemstones masquerading as real topaz gemstones.
Features
There are several factors to consider when choosing a topaz gift. The first, and perhaps the most critical, consideration to make is the type of gift you’re looking for. Is it a necklace, bracelet, or ring? Here are the features in more details:
- Occasion – Topaz is the birthstone for November, while blue topaz is for December. Topaz is a great choice for anniversaries. Blue topaz is the 4th-anniversary gemstone while the Imperial topaz is the traditional gemstone for the 23rd anniversary. So, ask what occasion you’re buying for and get the right topaz gift.
- Quality Factors – The silicate mineral appears in different quality levels. With a Mohs scale of 8, the material is extremely hard. However, it doesn’t have a good cleavage, meaning it can be prone to chipping. So, if you’re buying for a daily-worn product, consider bezel settings as opposed to prolonged settings.
- Color – Most topaz stones appear yellowish in color. Impurities in gemstones is the reason for variations in color; otherwise, a pure topaz gemstone is transparent and colorless. So, the beautiful coloration may not necessarily mean greater quality. You can find colors including pink, green, purple, and the famous blue gemstone. However, most blue topaz stones are heat-treated. The highest-quality topaz stones appear golden orange-yellow and is known as Imperial Topaz.
Construction and Design
The construction and design of your topaz gift is the most vital factor to consider. A couple of things to look out for, more specifically, are the manufacturing processes used to make it (and how this affects the piece), and the cut it possesses. Let’s take a look.
Manufacturing Processes
Topaz stones are manufactured in several ways to bring out the beauty and elegance associated with these gifts. Whether it’s a blue, yellow, green, colorless, white, or pink topaz, there are several factors that affect the quality of the final outcome of the product. As mentioned earlier, most topaz stones with a myriad of colors are usually heat-treated and may not actually be topaz gemstones in their natural form.
Mystic topaz presents all the rainbow colors, and was first developed in 1998, but only began to increase in popularity from 2003. The topaz comes with several rainbow shades like dark and beautiful pale shades. The prices are still relatively affordable, but choosing the right quality in this design can be daunting.
The recently-patented process called diffusion is used to treat colorless topaz stones by effectively penetrating a thin layer on the surface of the gemstone. The process is quite stable and the finished gemstone product won’t need delicate care once it’s sold to the consumer. These topaz gifts offer utmost durability, whether it’s a wedding ring or an engagement ring.
The Cut
Another important design consideration is the cut the topaz stone is subjected to. The way a gemstone is cut will affect its face-up color. There are different cutting styles used to prepare this extremely versatile gemstone. You can choose from oval, round, pear, cushion, emerald, marquise, and triangle. Other fancy shapes done by hand or machine are also available. The idea for cutting a topaz in various shapes is to control the amount of light reflected on the surface of the topaz, giving a magnificent sparkle. A poorly-cut stone will not effectively reflect light, hence will give off a dull look.
Performance and Ease of Use
Longevity, quality of appearance, and the recommended care are factors you don’t want to overlook when purchasing a topaz gift. A little bit of information on them is below.
Durability
Every jewelry piece is fun to wear, and it’s nice to enjoy the beauty and elegance that comes with it. But you want a gift that will last you a lifetime, especially if it’s a wedding ring or engagement ring. That’s why it’s critical to choose a topaz stone that’s durable and elegant.
Quality of Appearance
Topaz is widely available in nature and occurs in large sizes. A pure topaz is fairly transparent and makes a beautiful blue shade, although not all types will give the beautiful color you desire. There are industry-recommended heat treatment standards that are used to produce various colors to suit your style. Further, be sure to buy from reputable brands that adhere to these standards without compromising on the quality. Note that other varieties of colored topaz may significantly lose their color when exposed to high temperatures or sunlight.
Recommended Care
That brings us to the care and cleaning recommendations for topaz gemstones. Since it’s the transparent nature that makes topaz lovely, always avoid wearing your topaz jewelry when applying makeup, exercising, doing house cleaning, or any other situation where dirt or sweat can accumulate on the jewelry. Again, avoid direct exposure to heat and direct sunshine. Whenever your topaz jewelry collects dirt, use soap and warm water to gently wipe it out. Avoid any form of ultrasonic cleaner or steamer when cleaning the gemstone. To avoid scratches, keep your jewelry wrapped in a soft cloth.
To find the perfect topaz gift that will last your lifetime, you need to understand the features to look for in a topaz including the available colors, enhancements, special care, and any buyer alarms to help you avoid low-quality topaz gemstones. Luckily for you, we’ve put together this detailed guide to help you through. With that information, it’s now time to go through our top picks and get a topaz gift to surprise your loved one as the year comes to a close.
Topaz has been a popular gemstone that has been adored in the jewelry industry for many years. Hopefully, we’ve helped you find the best topaz gift to thrill your loved one this end-of-the-year holiday season. If you didn’t find a perfect fit, feel free to check out other options from these reputable brands.
