With November around the corner, topaz is about to take its turn as a birthstone. It is a gem that has gathered names, legends and royal rules over many centuries, and its story is full of surprises.
A name borrowed from an island
According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), most authorities believe the word topaz comes from Topazios, the ancient Greek name for a small island in the Red Sea now called Zabargad. The twist is that the island never produced topaz at all. It was a source of peridot, and before modern mineralogy the two stones were often confused. Some scholars offer a different origin, tracing the name to the Sanskrit word “tapaz”, meaning fire, which suits the warm golden and orange colours the gem is best known for.
Strength, spells and long life
GIA notes that the ancient Greeks believed topaz gave them strength. In Renaissance Europe, between roughly the 1300s and the 1600s, people thought it could break magic spells and calm anger. In India, a long-held belief says that topaz worn above the heart brings long life, beauty and intelligence. These ideas belong to folklore rather than science, but they help explain why the stone stayed popular for so long.
Imperial topaz and a royal monopoly
The name “imperial topaz” dates from 19th-century Russia. At the time, the Ural Mountains were the leading source of the gem, and the pink stones found there were named in honour of the tsar. GIA records that ownership of these gems was restricted to the royal family. Today, one of the most admired examples is the 97.45-carat Blaze Imperial Topaz in the collection of the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.
Topaz now shares the November birthstone title with citrine, so the month offers two warm, sunny options. If you are drawn to the colour, browse our topaz earrings and topaz pendants, or take a look at our citrine rings for November’s other golden gem.
Sources: Gemological Institute of America (GIA), “Topaz History and Lore” and “November Birthstones”.
