In this article
Written by Sameer
Reviewed on
Traditional belief vs gemmology: anything on this page about luck, protection, planets, healing or religious tradition describes traditional and cultural beliefs — not proven effects, religious rulings or medical advice. A stone's identity, hardness, treatment and origin are gemmology, which a lab can test; the references at the end of the page cover that side.
Blue topaz gives you a lot of bright blue for a modest outlay, which is why people buy it for jewellery and, in some cases, for traditional reasons too. There is one thing about its colour that many sellers skip over, and it is worth knowing before you pick a stone.
Nearly all blue topaz is treated, and that's fine
Topaz straight out of the ground is usually colourless or very pale. The strong blues you see in shops come from treating that colourless natural topaz, normally by irradiation and then heating. What you get is still natural topaz, with a stable colour that won't fade in ordinary wear. Treated blue topaz from proper sources is checked for safety before it reaches the market. The point is honesty: the seller should tell you the colour is treated. We always do.
What the shade names mean
- Sky blue: pale and bright, and the cheapest of the three.
- Swiss blue: a lively mid blue with a slightly electric look.
- London blue: dark and inky, with a hint of grey or teal.
These names describe colour, not where the stone was mined. Choose the shade you like best. None of them is more genuine than the others.
What it gets mistaken for
People mix up blue topaz with aquamarine, which feels lighter in the hand and is usually a softer blue, and with blue glass, which shows round bubbles under a loupe. If a stone sold to you as aquamarine is a strong electric blue, start asking questions.
Hard, with one weak direction
Topaz is 8 on the Mohs scale, so it takes daily wear well. It does have cleavage, which means a hard knock at the wrong angle can split it. A setting that guards the edges is a good idea, and keep it away from steam cleaners and sudden swings in temperature.
Who wears it, and why
Some astrologers use blue topaz as a lower-cost alternative in the Saturn or Jupiter group, while others won't use it. Many people wear it simply because it is a December birthstone. These are traditions and beliefs, and we don't promise any result from wearing it. If an astrologer is guiding you, agree the stone, weight, metal and finger with them before the ring is made. Our rashi guide shows the common pairings.
Picking a good stone
You want even colour without patchy areas, a lively cut that sends light back from the whole face, and no chips around the girdle.
Buying from us
Each stone in our blue topaz collection is checked, photographed on its own and listed with its treatment. With Cash on Delivery you open the parcel in front of the rider before paying, and you can return it within 7 days if it isn't right. Worth a look too: garnet and moss agate. Urdu and English names are on the names page. We ship from Karachi, usually 1–2 working days locally, and deliver to Lahore and every other city in Pakistan.
References
