While Citrine is the most commonly thought of birthstone for November, Imperial Topaz is actually the traditional gemstone for the month...and also one of our favorites! So let us dig in...
Up until the 1930s, Citrine and Topaz were thought to be one in the same gemstone until they were able to chemically differentiate the two into the quartz family (citrine) and the Topaz family (Imperial Topaz). The value of topaz can vary but the driving factor of its value is in the color.
Of the topaz family, Imperial Topaz is the most prized. The Imperial Topaz family includes topaz of the red, pink, sherry, and apricot colors with red topaz being the most rare. These gemstones are primarily mined in the Ural Mountains in Russia and in Brazil. The name Imperial Topaz was coined by the Russian royalty who, following ancient tradition, prized the topaz with these richer rosy colors. The name topaz, in fact, derives from the ancient Sanskrit meaning "fire".
There is a another categorization of topaz that is worth mentioning, Precious Topaz. Precious Topaz designates those topaz of the orange and golden varieties, and sits a single step below imperial topaz in rarity and value.
Shop All Topaz Jewelry
Up until the 1930s, Citrine and Topaz were thought to be one in the same gemstone until they were able to chemically differentiate the two into the quartz family (citrine) and the Topaz family (Imperial Topaz). The value of topaz can vary but the driving factor of its value is in the color.
Of the topaz family, Imperial Topaz is the most prized. The Imperial Topaz family includes topaz of the red, pink, sherry, and apricot colors with red topaz being the most rare. These gemstones are primarily mined in the Ural Mountains in Russia and in Brazil. The name Imperial Topaz was coined by the Russian royalty who, following ancient tradition, prized the topaz with these richer rosy colors. The name topaz, in fact, derives from the ancient Sanskrit meaning "fire".
There is a another categorization of topaz that is worth mentioning, Precious Topaz. Precious Topaz designates those topaz of the orange and golden varieties, and sits a single step below imperial topaz in rarity and value.
Shop All Topaz Jewelry