We earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.

Topaz · Al₂SiO₄(F,OH)₂ · 8

Topaz

Topaz is an aluminium silicate with fluorine, hard (8 on the Mohs scale) and found in huge clear crystals. Most topaz comes out of the ground colourless. Almost every blue topaz you can buy, Swiss, London or sky blue, is colourless topaz treated to turn blue, a permanent and accepted treatment. Natural golden-pink imperial topaz is the rare, valuable kind. Lab-grown topaz is not sold commercially; "lab topaz" listings are usually glass or another stone.

From the ground to your hand

The same stone at four moments. Tap a photo of a listing to see it on Amazon.

  1. 01 In the ground (step 1 of 4)

    An imperial topaz crystal from Ouro Preto, Brazil. Note the flat end: topaz splits cleanly along one direction.

    An imperial topaz crystal from Ouro Preto, Brazil. Note the flat end: topaz splits cleanly along one direction.

    Real specimen. Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky, CC BY-SA 3.0.

  2. 02 In a museum (step 2 of 4)

    The American Golden Topaz: 22,892.5 carats and 172 facets, cut over two years from a 26 lb crystal from Minas Gerais, Brazil. Smithsonian, Washington.

    The American Golden Topaz: 22,892.5 carats and 172 facets, cut over two years from a 26 lb crystal from Minas Gerais, Brazil. Smithsonian, Washington.

    Real specimen. Photo: thisisbossi, CC BY-SA 2.0.

  3. 03 Rough to own (step 3 of 4)

    A real imperial topaz crystal, 15 to 20 ct, for about $40.

    A real imperial topaz crystal, 15 to 20 ct, for about $40.

    Amazon listing photo. See it on Amazon

  4. 04 Set (step 4 of 4)

    Natural London blue topaz in 14K white gold, from PEORA.

    Natural London blue topaz in 14K white gold, from PEORA.

    Amazon listing photo. See it on Amazon

Mineral
Topaz (aluminium fluorosilicate)
Colour from
Usually colourless; blue by treatment; golden-pink (imperial) from trace chromium and colour centres
Hardness
8 on the Mohs scale, with one easy cleavage
Grown in labs?
Not commercially
Famous sources
Brazil, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, USA

Famous topaz in museums

What the finest natural stones look like: real pieces in public collections. The whole gem museum.

A Portuguese choker of topazes: An 18th-century Portuguese choker set with topazes.
A Portuguese choker of topazesAn 18th-century Portuguese choker set with topazes.National Museum of Ancient Art (Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga), LisbonGold and gems from Brazil poured into Lisbon in the 1700s, and Brazilian topaz became a Portuguese favourite.Photo: Manederequesens, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A topaz necklace from 1868: A necklace of topazes made by the Stockholm jeweller Gustaf Möllenborg in 1868, from the collection of Countess Wilhelmina von Hallwyl.
A topaz necklace from 1868A necklace of topazes made by the Stockholm jeweller Gustaf Möllenborg in 1868, from the collection of Countess Wilhelmina von Hallwyl.Hallwyl Museum, StockholmThe countess catalogued everything she owned, down to the spoons, and left her whole house to the Swedish state as a museum.Photo: Erik Lernestål, Public domain.
A Tiffany topaz and diamond necklace: A necklace of topazes and diamonds in gold and platinum, designed by Tiffany & Co., in the gem gallery of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
A Tiffany topaz and diamond necklaceA necklace of topazes and diamonds in gold and platinum, designed by Tiffany & Co., in the gem gallery of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.Cleveland Museum of Natural HistoryGolden topaz and white diamond is a classic pairing that jewellers still use today.Photo: Tim Evanson, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Natural colour vs treated blue topaz

Mined and lab-grown topaz are the same mineral; this is what differs
Natural colourTreated blue (Swiss, London, sky)
How it gets its colourFrom the ground: colourless, pale blue, sherry, or the rare golden-pink imperialColourless topaz is irradiated, then heated, which turns it blue for good
How commonFine imperial topaz is rareAlmost all blue topaz sold
Is it safe?YesYes: treated stones are held until any radiation has fully decayed, under regulation
PriceImperial: hundreds to thousands of dollars a caratA few dollars a carat
Watch out for"Imperial topaz" that is really citrineMystic topaz: a thin coating that can scratch off

Blue topaz is one of the best values in coloured gems: real topaz, hard and bright, for little money, because the colour is made, not mined. Pay real money only for imperial topaz, and only with a report.

Treatments. Nearly all blue topaz is irradiated and heated; this is permanent and accepted. Mystic and rainbow topaz are coated, and the coating can wear. Some pink topaz is heated imperial topaz. All gem treatments explained.

Where natural topaz comes from

Pins mark mining districts, not exact mines. Drag to move, pinch or scroll to zoom, tap a pin to read about it. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

List of every place on the map (4)
  • Topaz: Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Almost the only source of golden-orange to pink imperial topaz.
  • Topaz: Katlang, Mardan, Pakistan. Rare natural pink topaz.
  • Topaz: Ilmen and Murzinka, Urals, Russia. Historic source of blue and imperial-coloured topaz crystals.
  • Topaz: Thomas Range, Utah, USA. Sherry-coloured crystals in volcanic rhyolite; topaz is the state gem of Utah.

How it is cut

Lab topaz is mostly machine-cut in calibrated sizes, which is why a cut lab stone costs little more than its rough. Fine mined stones are often native-cut to keep weight, then recut by precision cutters. See cuts from easiest to hardest and whether cutting your own is cheaper than buying cut.

What to buy

Checked in stock on October 10, 2026. Photos are the listings' own; prices are rounded.

Gem treatments explainedThe natural gem catalog

The topaz shop: 14 more pieces we trust

Every piece names the real stone and comes from a seller with a record, checked in stock on October 11, 2026. Photos are the listings' own; prices are rounded.

WomenPEORA London blue topaz cathedral solitaire ring, sterling silverAbout 400 ratings.about $80on Amazon →Women0.5 ctPEORA London blue topaz ring, 0.5 ct, sterling silverabout $80on Amazon →Women2 ctPEORA London blue topaz studs, 6 mm, 2 ct, 14K white goldSolid gold. Ships on a lead time.about $250on Amazon →WomenPEORA Swiss blue topaz pendant, 8 mm, 14K white goldabout $230on Amazon →Women1.5 ctPEORA Swiss blue topaz trillion studs, 1.5 ct, sterling silverabout $45on Amazon →WomenGem Stone King London blue topaz tennis bracelet, sterling silverAbout 140 ratings.about $95on Amazon →Women9.72 ctGem Stone King Swiss and white topaz pendant, 9.72 ct totalabout $160on Amazon →WomenGem Stone King London blue topaz pendant and earrings setabout $100on Amazon →WomenJewelryPalace Swiss blue topaz snowflake earringsabout $60on Amazon →Women1.2 ctJewelryPalace princess blue topaz solitaire, 1.2 ctabout $27on Amazon →WomenShop LC octagon blue topaz ring, sterling silverOver 1,000 ratings: the budget pick.about $28on Amazon →Women3 ctRoss-Simons sky blue topaz ring, 3 ct, with white topazabout $130on Amazon →

Your kit for topaz

Five tools that let you check what you bought (a loupe, a UV torch, locking tweezers, a gem box and a pocket scale), plus a turntable that spins your stone under the light the way jewellers show one. The full collector's kit.

LookGemOro 10x triplet loupeunder $20LookDARKBEAM filtered 365 nm UV flashlightabout $10HandleHonoson locking tweezers, 3 packabout $10StoreTeensery gem display boxes with clear lids, 10 packabout $9ShowComXim motorized turntable, adjustable speed and directionabout $15MeasureGemOro Platinum XP500 pocket scale, 0.01 gabout $40

In short

Topaz grows over millions of years in the earth, or in hours to months in a lab. Both are real topaz; the mined stone is rare and priced for rarity, the lab stone is priced for the cost of growing it. Buy lab to wear and enjoy, check the listing names the mineral, and test it when it arrives.

See our first pick: PEORA London blue topaz pendant, 8 mm, 14K white gold

Frequently Asked Questions

Is blue topaz natural?

The stone is natural topaz; the strong blue almost never is. Colourless topaz is irradiated and heated to make Swiss, London and sky blue. It is permanent, safe and the reason blue topaz is cheap.

What is imperial topaz?

Natural golden-orange to pinkish topaz, found almost only near Ouro Preto in Brazil. It is the valuable kind of topaz.

Is there lab-grown topaz?

Not in jewellery. Topaz has been grown experimentally but is not made commercially. A "lab topaz" listing is usually glass, cubic zirconia or lab spinel.

Is topaz good for a ring?

Yes, with care: it is hard (8) but splits along one direction if knocked hard, so protective settings are wise for daily wear.

Photo credits

  • topaz-crystal.webp: Robert M. Lavinsky, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
  • topaz-american-golden.webp: thisisbossi, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
  • Product photos: Amazon listings, via the Amazon Product Advertising (Creators) API.

Amazon links are affiliate links (tag thegemtray-20): buying through them costs you nothing extra and supports the site. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.