Blue Topaz Jewelry
The sky-blue member of the topaz family and a birthstone of December
Unearthed Gemstones Blue Topaz Jewelry
Click the photos for a closer look of the jewelry pieces
Hardness
8 (Very Durable): Resistant to scratches.
Toughness
Poor (Fragile — Can chip or break easily; Treat gently and store separately)
Mineral Family
Topaz
Transparency
Transparent
Crystal System
Orthorhombic
Lustre
Vitreous
What Is Blue Topaz?
Blue topaz is the sky-coloured member of the topaz family, an aluminium silicate that grows in beautifully clean crystals. Brazil is the main source, and blue topaz is a birthstone for December.
Is Blue Topaz Natural?
Here's the honest bit: deep natural blue topaz is very rare. Nearly all the blue topaz in jewellery starts as colourless topaz that is irradiated and then heated, producing the popular sky blue, Swiss blue and London blue shades. This is a safe, permanent and openly disclosed trade practice, and the stone itself is completely genuine topaz.
Is Blue Topaz Durable Enough for Everyday Jewelry?
At 8 on the Mohs scale, blue topaz shrugs off scratches, but there is a catch. Topaz has perfect cleavage, meaning a sharp knock in the wrong direction can split it. So while it is fine for regular wear, protective settings help for rings. It is usually faceted, and because large clean crystals are common, you can get a big, bright stone for very little.
How to Care for Blue Topaz Jewelry
Warm, soapy water is all it needs, and it should never go in an ultrasonic cleaner.
Gemstones Similar to Blue Topaz
Aquamarine is its classic look-alike, and a transparent blue apatite has a similar look.
