All the secrets of this powerful “amulet.”

Topaz has always been a very controversial stone, not only because for thousands of years it has been confused with many other stones, but also because its name also has different origins. 

For some, it derives from the old Sanskrit where it means fire, perhaps because of the glorious color of imperial topaz; for others, it comes from Greek, and it would mean searching, but in Pliny’s writings, it is mentioned that its name comes from an island in the Red Sea where there were large deposits of precious stones that were called Zabargad also known as “Topaz.” 

However, the stones that were extracted from their mines were peridots. Perhaps this controversy is due to the fact that in other times, any stone brown-gold and even green was believed to be a topaz since the crystalline differences between topaz and peridot were unknown.

Also, for many years, it was believed that the most famous topaz found in the history of Jewelry was a diamond. Found in 1740 in the mines of Ouro Preto, it was baptized as the “Diamond of Braganza,” and it became part of the Portuguese crown, contributing to the misfortune of its jewels. 

The confusion was due to the fact that this topaz is a totally colorless gem that looked like a diamond. They resemble each other so much that it was considered the largest diamond ever found due to its 1,680 carats of weight.

If today you ask what color topaz is and it is not someone who loves gems, they will probably answer that it is pale or intense blue. It is true that blue is currently the most used color in high jewelry, but topaz has many colors, from pink to champagne to the golden color of imperial topaz.

What is evident is that for thousands of years, it has been used by many civilizations in jewelry, ornamentation, and crowns because it has always been considered one of the most powerful amulets. The Egyptians believed that the golden glow of imperial topaz came from the sun god Ra himself, the Romans associated it with Jupiter, the Greeks believed that it had supernatural powers, and finally, in the Middle Ages, it was assigned to the planet Venus.

In jewelry, topaz has been used in all colors of brown, yellow, orange, red, pink, or blue, and this is one of the causes of the confusion it has generated over time. Its hardness of 8 points on the Mosh scale allows it to be worn on all types of jewelry without having to worry too much about its conservation. 

Types of topaz and their colors

Today the most common color among topaz is blue, in different shades, although there is topaz in many other colors such as the typical gold of imperial topaz. In any case, we are talking about a stone that for centuries has been used in jewelry, even royalty, from different civilizations.

This mineral is used in jewelry in all the colors in which it is available, for example, pink or orange, precisely this varied color palette is one of the main reasons why topaz has been the subject of controversy for a long time.

In any case, it is a stone that can be used in jewelry of all kinds, since having a hardness of eight points on the Mosh scale, it is a particularly resistant material.

Properties of topaz

Along with these uses, topaz is also believed to have therapeutic properties. It is associated with the third chakra, is considered a stone associated with generosity, joy, creativity, and abundance.

It is also thought to help regain strength both physically and spiritually and to overcome limitations.

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