Birthstones
Traditionally, a special stone, a birthstone, has been
selected to celebrate each month of the calendar year. Please click on the months below to view
information on each of the months' birthstones. The birthstones described here are for the
stones most commonly accepted in the United States as the birthstone of the month.
If you are interested in purchasing a gem, feel free to e-mail
us or call us on our toll free
number, 800-659-4367. We will gladly describe and quote price on a specific
gemstone. Our sales staff and goldsmiths can assist you in designing and constructing
a custom piece, and turn your gem into a treasured family heirloom.
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T O P A Z |::| Mohs' Hardness 8
The November birthstone is found naturally in many colors: yellows, pinks, oranges, browns and even colorless. Reportedly, natural blue
gems have also been mined in Russia, but the typical blue topaz found in the marketplace has been irradiated in a lab to obtain its blue
coloring.
Topaz is a relatively hard stone, but it has a cleavage plane which can sheer if the gem is hit hard. Properly cut stones position
this cleavage plane on an angle to minimize this possibility. Topaz crystals are found in large sizes, and per carat price does not
carry a significant premium as gem size increases.
Natural crystals tend to be somewhat long in relationship to width, and polished gems are often cut in this same long-narrow fashion; well
proportioned gems carry a premium price. Citrine, a yellow quartz, is sometimes incorrectly called 'golden Topaz', but this name
is misleading and should be avoided. Major topaz mines are in Brazil, Mexico and Sri Lanka.
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