It's no surprise that faceted topaz can be found in extraordinary sizes. Very transparent, gem-quality material is often mined out of the ground and sent to the jewelry industry for use in large, center-stone cuts. Free-form designers typically choose topaz for their base material when creating gem sculptures due to its availability in high carat weights.



Here we'll take a quick look at two of the biggest topaz stones on the planet. The El-Dorado Topaz is the larger of the pair, and weighs in at about 31,000 carats. It was discovered in the mining regions of Minas Gerais, Brazil back in 1984, and has remained one of the largest faceted gemstones on record. Before it was cut, the rough material actually weighed over 81 lbs. Cutters had to reduce its weight during the polishing process in order to remove low-quality portions that would have detracted from the crystal's beauty.

Next up, we have the American Golden Topaz (featured photo), which weighs in at over 22,800 carats. It took a total of two entire years to facet and polish from a gigantic 26 lbs. rough specimen. Its beautiful hue has been described to resemble golden honey by viewers at its current home- the Museum of Natural History in Washington (D.C.). To our knowledge, just like the El Dorado Topaz, the American Golden Topaz was also unearthed from the Minas Gerais Region of Brazil, which is famous for its high concentration of precious gemstones like aquamarine, tourmaline, topaz and others.



Topaz can be found in many colors, typically slight brownish or yellowish hues and grayed tones. These are commonly used as base material for the color-enhancing treatments that produce london blue and swiss blue topaz, the stones that resemble santa maria aquamarine specimens on today's markets. Gem collectors will tell you though, that the finest naturally colored topaz specimens will be bright red or orangey red. Strongly colored orange to red topaz is frequently labeled as imperial topaz.

A fiery new addition to the esteemed gemstone collection of the Smithsonian has just been publicized. Dubbed the "Whitney Flame" Topaz, this rare 48.86 ct. elongated pear-cut specimen was acquired by Coralyn Wright Whitney for the institute.


Imperial Topaz is one of the most vibrant and precious colored gemstones in the world. Naturally colored bright orangey red specimens constitute the top qualities of topaz on today's market. Pure red hues, as exhibited by this stone, are exponentially more elusive to come by.

Colored by trace amounts of Chromium, the beautiful red color of the Whitney Flame will now be on display for the whole world to see and enjoy. It's said that the original crystal came from the famous mining area of Ouro Preto in Brazil- a source locality known for its fine topaz production.


Whitney purchased the stone at the Arizona's Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, which is undoubtedly one of the most famous gem shows across the U.S. and the world. Her decision to give it to the Smithsonian was also accompanied by a 5 million dollar endowment.


It's known that red topaz is very rare, but exactly how exclusive is this color for the species? Experts have documented that around 1-2% of all topaz mined will be considered as "gem quality material", which means that a stone is transparent and beautiful enough to be used in the jewelry trade. Out of this tiny percentage, a majority will be brownish, orangey or bland in color. Many of these stones would be candidates for irradiation treatment into blue topaz.

Now, take one% of that 1-2%, that's the current ratio of red-colored topaz coming out of the mines today. Not all of these are pure red, some have a slight tinge of orange modifying colors. Pure red stones sit at the pinnacle of demand among topaz connoisseurs.


The Whitney Flame was displayed alongside many other famous stones, like the Hope Diamond. The Smithsonian showcases about 10,000 gemstone specimens and even more raw mineral samples in its galleries and exhibits.

Photography Credits: Donny Bajohr, Smithsonian Magazine, and NBC Washington 

It's not very often that designer-cut gems obtain an international recognition from the entire gem trade, unless of course they're cut from rough of matchless quality and extreme rarity.

Gem cutters like to dabble with freeform and flowing shapes, creating things that are out of the ordinary. Facets, domes, and girdles are all standard elements of many commercial quality gems, so artists have to do something grand to truly stand out.

This is the Imperial Flame Topaz, a 332.24 ct. freeform marvel cut by Alexander Kreis. It's rough material was reported to have originated from Ouro Preto, Brazil, whose mines are famous for producing some of the most beautiful topaz specimens on the planet.

This piece was revealed during the Tucson show in Arizona, not so long ago, and set a new stage for gem cutters to conquer. The Kreis family reported that the original rough was mined from Brazil over two decades ago. Despite its history, there is no large-scale mining activity ongoing at the original site.



Topaz is quite a difficult stone to cut, as it possesses basal cleavage, which means that it's atomic bonds are actually weaker (or fewer) in certain crystallographic directions. The master cutters had to be very careful so as not to damage the crystal, or waste too much of its precious weight.

Imperial topaz, the finest of all the topaz varieties, usually ranges from intense reds and pinks to sun-drenched oranges and yellows. The gradient-like display of color in this very large piece puts it at a tier above 98% of similar specimens.

The "Imperial Flame" is an example of the wondrous possibility involved when gemstones meet the craftsmanship of innovative artists who seek to move past tradition and classicism.

Image credits to Kreis Jewellery, for sharing this masterpiece of gem carving with the rest of the jewelry collecting community.

Amethyst is the violet to reddish-purple variety of quartz. Its name is derived from the Greek word amethystos, which roughly translates to "remedy from intoxication" referring to a long lost belief that stones protected their wearers from becoming drunk after taking wine.




It's currently the most popular purple gemstone collected worldwide by jewelry owners and gemstone afficionados. Despite its current affordability on the markets however, Amethyst at one point was as rare and valuable as ruby, sapphire and emerald. It wasn't until the 18th century and the discovery of large amethyst geodes in the mines of Minas Gerais (Brazil), that the stone's supply skyrocketed internationally. This may have brought prices to more normal levels, but it also allowed this beautiful gem to reach every little corner of the world, lending its appreciative beauty to many different societies and cultures.

Amethyst is the designated gemstone for the entire month of February. Its deep and affectionate purplish hue is simply perfect for the incoming Valentines' day romance.

People from Metro Manila love using amethyst as a favored gemstone in their bracelets, beads and even rings. Some of the older texts on crystal beliefs and gemstone healing, suggest that amethyst is believed to increase nobility and spiritual awareness in a person. It's contact with the wearer's skin was also said to impart healing properties that cured general ailments and insomnia.

All quartz varieties, including amethyst and its cousin Citrine, exhibit piezoelectric properties. This means that when a crystal is subjected to a certain amount of force, movement or pressure, its structure will release a tiny charge of electric energy, and vice versa. This fact was made extremely useful in many various industries, such as watch-making / horologie, due to the precision of the movements generated through the unique property.



Amethyst for the longest time, was a revered gemstone associated with royalty and exclusivity. Its color was paralleled by no other in the range, not even by purple sapphire. This led many jewelers to use it in their masterpiece creations, even after the Brazilian sources were found. Crystals tend to come in clear, almost eye-clean qualities, which is perfect for designer-cuts and modified faceting. Amethyst is now quickly becoming a favorite of modern gem-cutting artisans for its pure clarity and deep saturations.

A word of caution for collectors though, it might not be wise to expose your amethyst stones to very bright sources of light and heat. Amethyst's color comes from a complicated atomic defect associated with the iron impurities in its crystal lattice. Some people who want to change amethyst to Citrine, heat their crystals in specific controlled environments with precise temperatures. The fact remains however, that some exposure to strong heat / light may cause the stone's dark purple to fade lighter over long periods of time.

(Below is a picture of Bolivian ametrine, a bicolored crystal variety of quartz that's created by partially heating raw amethyst. Photo credit to Kingstone Gems.)