A blue topaz ring makes a beautiful gift or a unique engagement ring. A sterling silver blue topaz ring is a great birthday gift for a woman in any age group. A white gold blue topaz ring can be an alternative to diamonds and yellow gold in typical wedding rings and engagement rings. If you cannot think of a wedding or engagement ring without diamonds, a blue topaz diamond ring in either silver or white gold will look stunning and is often appreciated by women who do not like the yellow varieties of gold.
What is Blue Topaz
Topaz is a gemstone that comes in a wide variety of colors. A pure type of topaz is transparent and colorless; although most of the time the colorless varieties have small impurities that create a tint on the stone. Colored topaz is available in a range of different shades from yellow and reddish orange to different tones of blue and brown. Topaz can be also treated to change its color and can be turned into gold, reddish yellow, white, blue, pale green, opaque or the rare but much-loved pink shade.
Blue topaz is rarely found naturally and the bluest shades are usually man made. Often the pale yellow and pale blue, colorless or gray varieties of topaz are treated with heat and radiation to create a deep blue color. Blue topaz comes in several different shades, but some of the most popular are called London Blue, Swiss and Sky. The Swiss Blue variety has a shade that is close to turquoise and is very attractive. The deepest blue is that of the London Blue, and it is sometimes used as a cheaper alternative to sapphires. However, compared to the other shades of blue topaz, the London type is more expensive and the most sought after.
Topaz is a hard stone and on the Mohs scale (used to determine the hardness of gemstones), it gets an 8. Despite its hardness, topaz can get split, so keep your rings safe when not in use, and protect them from knocks and blows.
The Qualities of Blue Topaz
The name of topaz is said to come from the world “tapas”, meaning fire in the ancient Indian language Sanskrit, although it could also originate from to ancient Greece. In ancient Rome, topaz was associated with the Roman god Jupiter.
Blue topaz was believed to be a cooling stone and could be used to cool hot water, or to cool down hot tempers. Like many gemstones, blue topaz is believed to have healing properties including a power to heal insomnia, problems with eyesight, asthma and even insanity. In Greece, topaz was used to increase the wearer’s strength, and in Rome, it was believed to have the ability to improve vision. Topaz was also known in Ancient Egypt, where it was used as a protection from injuries. In medieval Europe, topaz was believed to heal mental illness and even prevent death.
Today topaz is mainly mined in Brazil, the US, Nigeria, Mexico, China, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, and is used in blue topaz rings, ear rings, necklaces and bracelets. It is very popular with women looking for silver jewelry with a light and delicate gemstone as an alternative to gold jewelry.
Buying Silver Topaz Jewelry
If you are looking for a silver and topaz ring, here are some tips for purchasing quality silver jewelry.
The most popular type of silver in jewelry is the sterling silver. Because genuine silver is too soft to use in jewelry making, it is mixed with other metals to make it stronger. This creates an alloy, or a silver mixture, such as sterling. Generally, any silver marketed as sterling or “solid” must have a minimum of 92.5 percent of pure silver in the mixture. You can usually see a tiny marking with the numbers 92.5 inside a silver ring as a guarantee of the quality.
Copper is often used in silver mixes because it can make the material harder, but a copper mix can also darken over time as the jewelry comes into contact with air. To preserve your sterling silver in a good condition, keep it wrapped in a cloth or inside a bag when the jewelry is not in use. There are special cloths for storing silver that have the ability to prevent the tarnishing (darkening) effect.
When to Give Blue Topaz
Blue topaz engagement rings, made with blue topaz and silver, can be very attractive alternatives to gold rings and diamonds. Traditionally this gemstone has been used to symbolize fidelity and love, which makes it an excellent choice for weddings and engagements. Topaz jewelry is also often given on the 4th, the 19th and the 23rd wedding anniversary to celebrate the marriage. Blue topaz is the birthstone for the month of December, and a blue topaz ring can make an excellent birthday present to anyone born in December.