Clear topaz, light blue topaz, yellow, orange, pink, brown, and, very infrequently, red are just a few of the stunning topaz colors. The lovely and functional birthstone for November is topaz.
The topaz birthstone comes in a variety of colors, some of which are naturally occurring and others which have been artificially enhanced. In fact, the bulk of blue topaz found today is a result of heating and irradiating colorless topaz. Additionally, a thin synthetic film is applied to colorless topaz to give the “Mystic Topaz” its rainbow look. The light yellow hue of yellow topaz may be well known to you.
In This Article...
Origins of The Topaz Birthstone
While some claim the Sanskrit word tapas, which means “fire,” is where the name “topaz first appeared, others attribute it to the Greek word and island of Topazios. The pinkish-orange “Imperial topaz” birthstone for November is the most sought-after hue. This type is shrouded in royal mystery; many say that the Russian royal family intended to retain exclusive ownership of the finest colors of this gem, which were mined in the Ural Mountains of Russia.
Others think that Imperial topaz originated from a visit by Brazilian Emperor Pedro II in 1881, a theory that is particularly well-liked in South America. The town of Ouro Preto, which is close to Brazil’s most productive topaz mines, was visited by the Emperor. They gave him a reddish topaz in appreciation of his visit.
Where does Topaz Come From?
The November birthstone can be found all over the world in this form. For more than 300 years, Minas Gerais, the Brazilian state where Ouro Preto is situated, has been one of the primary producers of high-quality topaz. Currently, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
The Ghundao Hill near Katlang, which has been mined since 1972, is well-known across the world for producing pink topaz. The most expensive pink topaz from Katlang contains a hint of violet and is sometimes referred to as “cyclamen pink” by those in the gem industry.
Namibia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Madagascar, Mexico, the United States, and historical Russian locales are now important sources of this November birthstone.
Can November have blue topaz?
Two gemstones, citrine and topaz, are related to November birthdays. Citrine is thought to be a healing gemstone and its warm color is regarded to be a gift from the sun. Topaz comes in a number of rich colors, including blue, pink, and yellow, but its deep orange Imperial Topaz color is the most sought-after.
Why Does November Have Two Birthstones?
Although Citrine replaced Topaz as the official birthstone for November in the early 1910s after jewelers discovered that adding heat and pressure to amethyst would enable it to become yellow, Topaz is still the traditional birthstone for November due to the rarity of yellow Topaz. Iron imperfections in the gem’s structure are what give it its magnificent color. One of the most well-liked and commonly bought yellow gemstones is this one.
What is the History about the November Birthstones?
Some people think the Sanskrit word tapas, which meaning “fire,” is where the word “topaz” originates. Some attribute it to the Greek topazos. It has long been believed that the birthstone for November has several advantages. Topaz was thought to give power by the ancient Greeks. Given for the thirteenth wedding anniversary, citrine, which is thought to have descended from the French word for “lemon” (citron), has a history of being confused with topaz. People thus believed that citrine possessed the same abilities as topaz. The citrine gemstone was thought to calm the person and settle their anger.
What is the November Birthstone Color?
Topaz and citrine are the two birthstone possibilities for people born in November. Golden yellow is the hue of the birthstone for November. Although topaz comes in a range of hues, yellow is the birthstone for November’s symbol. Since blue topaz is a more common color for topaz and is more accessible than yellow topaz, some people pick it as an alternative. Golden yellow gemstone known as citrine has hues that vary from light yellow to brownish orange.
What is the November Birthstone Meaning?
The word topaz is derived from the Sanskrit tapas, which means fire, and the Greek word topazion. This captivating diamond, one of the most colorful, is available in various varieties. Citrine is thought to be a healing gemstone and is said to be a gift from the sun.
What are Typical November Birthstone Rings?
Finding a yellow topaz is challenging, especially for a reasonable price. Citrine is a lovely birthstone for November since it provides possibilities at cheaper costs. Birthstone rings from Joseph’s Jewelry’s line, which come in white, yellow, and rose 14k gold, vividly display the eye-catching color of citrine.
Which two stones are November’s birthstones?
Topaz and citrine are two lovely birthstones that can be worn by people born in November. Citrine is appreciated for its lovely yellow and orange tones whereas topaz comes in a variety of colors. Both birthstones for November are thought to provide relaxing qualities that also bring luck and warmth to the bearer. Since high-quality gems like topaz and citrine are not as scarce as for many of their contemporaries, these birthstones are often priced reasonably. As a result, people who were born in November have a wide range of alternatives. Choosing one will be your biggest issue.
Does November have a blue birthstone?
The gorgeous gem of various colors topaz, which is the November birthstone, is highly prized as a gemstone for jewelry. Topaz was thought to have magical and therapeutic properties in earlier civilizations. Perhaps the Sanskrit word for fire is where its name comes from.
Colors of the November birthstone
Topaz can be found in a variety of stunning hues, including mild blue, pink, red, brown, different hues of yellow, and even black. Topaz is a colorless stone in its purest form. The chromium atoms in the crystal give red and some pink topazes their color. Most other colors are the result of crystal flaws and small element substitutions. Some hues are brittle and prone to fading. Heat can alter the color of some stones. Colorless topaz can be irradiated with high energy to produce blue gemstones.
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Topaz is an aluminum silicate mineral with fluorine and hydroxide in its chemical composition (a hydrogen-oxygen molecule). Topaz is the hardest silicate mineral, scoring an 8 on the Mohs scale, because to its strong chemical bonding. High flourine concentrations, a prerequisite for the creation of topaz, are geologically uncommon, according to Geoscience Australia. They provided an explanation of how topaz forms in igneous rock cavities:
When there is sufficient fluorine to support the creation of topaz, which occurs in the late phases of a magma cooling, the crystals develop. Some topaz crystals form when fluorine-rich hot fluids (hydrothermal solutions) pass through fissures in already-cooled rocks.
Topaz on display
From small crystals to enormous rocks, topaz gemstones are found in a variety of sizes. A Brazilian example of one of the largest uncut topaz stones weights about 600 pounds (270 kg). It is on view in New York at the American Museum of Natural History.
The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., also houses one of the largest cut topazes in the world. called the Golden Topaz of America. It is around 7 inches (18 cm) long and 10.1 pounds (4.6 kg) in weight.
Uses for the November birthstone
Topaz is the perfect stone for jewelry like necklaces, brooches, and bracelets because of its vibrant fire, clarity, hues, and toughness. The pure topaz, which is finely cut and colorless, is occasionally mistaken for a diamond. Topaz is a pricey gem because of its scarcity. Red is the most expensive and scarcest color. The most widely used topaz stones are the brownish-yellow, orange-yellow, and reddish brown variants, which are sherry-colored. They are quite expensive, just like pink stones. While less valuable, light blue and pale yellow topaz are nevertheless incredibly beautiful.
Topaz has industrial uses in addition to its use in jewelry. Because it keeps its strength under intense heat, it is utilized as a refractory material in kilns and furnaces. It can also be used as a mold for molten metals and glass due to its feature.
Brazil is the world’s largest producer of topaz, with the Minas Geranis region serving as its most noteworthy source. In addition to these nations, topaz is also mined in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Russia, and Australia. People have discovered it in Utah, Texas, and California in the United States.
Topaz lore
Topaz may have gotten its name from a Sanskrit word that means fire. A more complicated alternative narrative is also present. The gemstone may have been given the name Topazos after an ancient Greek island in the Red Sea. People mined a yellow stone on the purportedly hard to find island. Most people now believe that stone to be chrysolite.
According to legend, topaz could cool boiling water. According to legend, these diamonds gave their owners happy dreams and made them happy. Additionally, it was thought that persons who wore topaz would live long, beautiful, and intelligent lives.
People in the Middle Ages thought that diamonds with intricate engravings carried extraordinary powers. About the topaz, Ragiel’s Book of Wings from the thirteenth century said:
If a falcon is shown on a topaz, it can be used to win over monarchs, princes, and magnates.
Fever was treated with topaz as a medicine. Topaz powder was mixed into wine to treat asthma and sleeplessness. They thought that holding a topaz in a woman’s hand during childbirth would decrease her discomfort.
Topaz was advised as a treatment for impaired vision by Saint Hildegard, a German Benedictine abbess who lived in the 12th century. Three days and nights were spent submerging the stone in wine, after which the liquid was applied to the eyes. A topaz that belonged to two Catholic popes allegedly helped a Roman doctor in the 15th century treat plague sores.
See the birthstones for the rest of the year
In conclusion, topaz is the birthstone for November. It is a hard mineral that is often used in jewelry and has a persistent folklore of magical and therapeutic properties.
Topaz falls in November or December.
The most common color of topaz and the birthstone for December, blue topaz represents sincerity, intense emotional attachment, and emotional clarity. The fourth anniversary present idea is blue topaz, the birthstone for December. Because blue topaz is such a lovely stone, it makes everyone on your list feel radiant, even if you are stuck for a present idea to offer a friend or loved one or simply run out of ideas. We have a wide selection of blue topaz jewelry at Joseph’s Jewelry to suit every taste and price range.
What color birthstone corresponds to Scorpio?
A piece of Scorpio birthstone jewelry might be a better alternative. Lucky Scorpio has a wide selection of birthstones to pick from, so this star sign is inundated with options!
Opal or tourmaline are the two lovely birthstones that correspond to the sign of Scorpio. Both have unique meanings, and our collection of jewelry with the birthstone for October offers countless variations of each.
Citrine and topaz are the two birthstones for Scorpio for November. Citrine, the birthstone for Scorpio, is recognized for its vivid orange tones, whereas topaz is more frequently seen in a range of blue hues.
Uses for blue topaz
This vibrant blue diamond is referred to as the clarity stone. The significance of blue topaz enables you to access your inner wisdom and locate the ideal routes to prosperous chances. Anyone who wears this stone should embrace their true selves, have faith in their abilities, and celebrate luck.
Topaz or citrine, which is superior?
The fourth wedding anniversary is traditionally marked with a blue topaz, while the 23rd wedding anniversary is typically marked with an imperial topaz.
Topaz was regarded to give power to the ancient Greeks, and from the 1300s to the 1600s, it was believed to be able to ward off evil spells and calm rage throughout Europe. For many years, Indians believed that wearing a topaz pendant above the heart would bring about long life, wisdom, and beauty.
All clear yellow, orange, or brown gemstones were referred to as topaz until the turn of the 20th century. As a result, topaz was supposed to have a golden colour and attract wealth and gold to the wearer.
Topaz is quite harda Mohs scale 8but not extremely tough, thus it needs to be cleaned carefully. (Recall that the Mohs’ scale of hardness is used to categorize minerals.) Because excessive heat might create internal cracks in the stone, avoid using steam or ultrasonic cleaners on topaz. Topaz should be cleaned with warm, soapy water, advises Southern California-based bespoke jeweler Shmukler Design, to stop cracking.
Topaz is usually stable in the presence of light, but extended exposure to heat or too much sunlight can cause the yellow-to-brown varieties of the gem to lose their color. To be safe, remove the topaz gem when washing jewelry with chemicals. Topaz may also be somewhat impacted by some chemicals.
The handcrafted coating of the Mystic Topaz can survive normal wear, but it does require gentle cleaning. If your birthstone has been subjected to this treatment, clean it with a gentle soap solution.
Let’s move on to Citrine now:
Citrine is a clear yellow to brownish-orange form of quartz that has been used in jewelry for hundreds of years but wasn’t initially recognized as the birthstone for November. It was initially mistaken for topaz, the other birthstone for November. Citrine is said to have been named after the French word for lemon, citron, as its citrus tints would imply. Instead of lemon, residues of iron are what give the food its yellow to orange hue.
While Roman pontiffs wore rings with enormous amethysts that were rumored to be citrine, the ancient Greeks cut citrine into rock crystal decorations. In Victorian jewelry, citrine was also quite popular in Scotland, and today, citrine is the customary gift on a 13th wedding anniversary.
Because natural citrine is so uncommon, the majority of it that is currently available on the market was created by heating amethyst.
Spain, Bolivia, Mexico, Madagascar, and Uruguay are the main exporters of this gemstone for November. Brazil is a common mining location for amethyst that has been heated to a citrine hue.
Many people originally thought citrine had the same alleged calming properties as November’s second birthstone since it is often confused with topaz. Today, supporters of citrine extol its unique “powers, including fostering individual clarity and creativity and reducing negative inclinations. The qualities of hope, youth, vigor, health, happiness, and fidelity are also considered to be connected to citrine.
Finally, from the second millennium BCE until the end of the Han dynasty in 220 CE, people who lived in China termed citrine the “The emperors of that era believed that wearing the gem helped them develop their minds and sharpen their intellects, and they referred to it as the “stone of success.”
Citrine, which rates a 7 on the Mohs scale, is as hard as topaz, the other November birthstone, but citrine has superior toughness characteristics. Citrine can be cleaned with warm, soapy water and is resilient enough for everyday use. If you’d like, you can clean your citrine jewelry with an ultrasonic cleaner, but since steam cleaning could result in cracks, we strongly advise against it.
Is topaz the same as citrine?
Topaz and citrine, which belong to the quartz family, are separate mineral species. Not quartz, although the silicate mineral family includes topaz. Before these distinctions were understood, many cultures misidentified citrine, a yellow type of quartz, by calling it various names like gold topaz, Madeira topaz, or Spanish topaz, which added to the confusion.
What does the birthstone for November mean?
Topaz, the birthstone for November, represents adoration and love. It is thought to boost the wearer’s strength and intelligence. Find out more about the topaz’s color, history, and lore.