South American Topaz?

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hello Orchids.

I have been given some yellow orange coloured beads that I was told
were South American topaz. I’ve not heard of this and am suspicious
that it is another term or name for a synthetic or simulant. Any
info appreciated.

Thanks
Phil W

2

Well, Brazil, which when I last looked was in South America, is a
major source for topaz.

Daniel R. Spirer, G.G.
Daniel R. Spirer Jewelers, LLC

3

Hi Phil

Maybe Imperial Topaz from Brazil, the colour can range from yellow
to peach and pink…Ouro Preto region

Can you link a picture?
Simone

4 
I have been given some yellow orange coloured beads that I was
told were South American topaz. I've not heard of this and am
suspicious that it is another term or name for a synthetic or
simulant. Any info appreciated.

Find someone with a refractometer who can take an R.I. reading on the
stuff for you. South America is a big place with lots of gem
locations. Topaz is certainly possible, but so is Citrine quartz,
which is often also (incorrectly) called topaz. And then, as you
say, there are simulants, synthetics, glass, etc. My bets would be
either actual topaz or citrine quartz, or glass, rather than more
sophisticated synthetics… But just from the info you gave, there’s
no way to know beyond stating it could be topaz, or not. Glass, of
course, is easier to identify than the actual gem materials.
Usually, you can do that with a loupe, or at most, a polariscope
(which you could make from an old pair of polaroid sunglasses, if you
don’t have one.)

Peter

5

Hello Peter,

In this color could be treated Topaz, Imperial Topaz (that is mined
near Ouro Preto) or Citrine. But also can be glass, of corse that you
must test it.

Vlad Radu Poenaru
braziliangems.org

6

Updating what I said :

In this color could be treated Topaz, Imperial Topaz (that is
mined near Ouro Preto) or Citrine. But also can be glass, of corse
that you must test it.

After a research, I found a natural orange topaz, that seems with
some types of Imperial Topaz, but are produced in a complete
different region in Brasil in the northeast and nor Southeast ( where
Ouro Preto is ).

I hope it helped.
Vlad - from sunny (but right now cloudy) Brasil.
www.radudesigns.com - in two weeks completely reformed.
www.braziliangems.org