Topaz

Topaz comes in many colours such as blue, yellow, pink, brown, green and clear. Orange-red "Imperial" topaz is rare.

As with all gems, protect topaz from scratches and sharp blows. Also avoid large temperature changes (such as leaving it be a heater vent or in a hot car). Do not clean topaz in a home ultrasonic cleaner. The best way to clean topaz is warm soapy water.

Clear topaz is commonly irradiated and heat treated to become other colours such as blue. Yellow and brown topaz is often heat treated to become pink topaz. Natural pink topaz is rare.

Other names may be designated to certain types of topaz:

	Precious Topaz - used to distinguish topaz from cheaper fakes, such as citrine
	Imperial Topaz - lustrous orange-yellow to orange-brown variety of topaz
	Silver Topaz - colourless topaz
	Sherry Topaz - orange-brown topaz
	London Blue Topaz - deep blue topaz (the deepest blue form of topaz)
	Swiss Blue Topaz - deep blue topaz (not as deep blue as London blue topaz)
	Paraiba Topaz - sea-green topaz
	Brazilian Aquamarine - False name given to aquamarine
	Nerchinsk Aquamarine - False name given to aquamarine
	Brazilian Ruby - False name given to pink topaz
	Brazilian Sapphire - False name given to blue topaz (as well as blue tourmaline)