Has anyone yet identified the species and origin of the “Imperial
topaz” that is being sold out of Thailand ? I found some references
dating back to 2004 where folks were debating what the stones were,
but nothing was decided. I have purchased some at very low cost and
while it definitely does not resemble the classic Imperial topaz, it
is an interesting and usually very attractive stone anyway, with
it’s many shade of brown, gold, peach, and yellow… I’d like to know
more about it, though, but I can’t find anywhere.
Anyone ? TIA.
Brian Corll
Vassar Gems
1002 East Simpson Street
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Tel.: (717) 691-0286
Definitely not andalusite. I’ve seen plenty of it. Not citrine
either. It seems like a kind of topaz that is more like what is
found in the Guerrero area of Mexico, with it’s root-beer tones, but
it purportedly comes from Brazil, and has peach/yellow/gold tones
also. I’m trying to find out from where in Brazil, and what specific
variety of topaz it is.
Brian Corll
Brian Corll, Inc.
1002 East Simpson Street
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Haven't seen it personally, but from the description it sounds like
Andalusite, which is sometimes mistaken for imperial topaz.
I have some of this material on it’s way to me. I will have it tested
when I receive it and report back.
The Thailand topaz I have only seen online may look like andalusite,
but no precious topaz I have seen before in person would be mistaken
for andalusite. But then, I am a Graduate Gemmologist, and I
specialize in colored gems.
I don’t know if this is the same material you are speaking of, but
over the past year or so one of the rough dealers I work with has
been getting quite a bit of material out of Peshawar, Pakistan. In
addition t the much prized indicolite, there has been quite a bit of
irradiated topaz (light root beer to pale yellowish-brown) floating
around, trying to get itself sold to unknowledgeable folks as the
much rarer true orange material that is sometimes seen from this
area of the world. I don’t know if it fades light the material from
Guerrero, but is available in rather large, clean pieces.
It is not unknown for dealers from Brazil to trade with dealers from
Africa and Asia, so sources can get a little confusing. There is
some brownish-red to cherry red feldspar (andesine) floating around
and being touted as coming from China, but it really comes from
Nigeria. I think dealers sometimes do this so their competition does
not get to their source. This andesine ( read: sunstone) is trading
for upwards of $200/c.
Actually, quite a bit of colorless topaz comes from the tin mines
near Jos, Nigeria, and while it irradiates to varying shades of
brwon/tan/yellow it does not make the subsequent transition to
decent blue upon heating. I’m sure this stuff gets spread all over,
as well.
The Thailand topaz I have only seen online may look like
andalusite, but no precious topaz I have seen before in person
would be mistaken for andalusite.
Definitely not andalusite. Not even close. My guess is that its is
topaz leavings, what is left when the “real” imperial topaz is cut
from the rough.
The pronounced dichroism in andalusite virtually precludes its being
mistaken for topaz. Imperial topaz is a sloppy distinction. It is
supposed to have a reddish orange color, but many dealers stretch it
to include just about any shade of yellowish brown. One of my
customers came in recently with an ordinary Brazilian topaz which he
had purchased from a gem dealer in Australia. It was sold to him for
a significant sum and as an Imperial topaz. A true imperial topaz
sells for many times more than an ordinary topaz…so much more
that in the best grades it might just as well be classified as a
precious gem !
A gem dealer with 45 years experience suggested to me that the
darker Thai topaz material is probably of African origin. I have
gotten some Thai topaz billed as “peach golden yellow” that really is
peach golden yellow and apparently is from Brazil.
Is there anything that’s NOT classified as a precious gem anymore ?
I thought we had done away with semi-precious stones.
Imperial topaz is only a trade name, not the proper name of a
gemstone. So I suppose you can call any topaz an Imperial topaz if
you want. But too many stones are being given that label. I have
bought some that turned out to be very nice stones in their own
right, but they are not classic “Imperial topaz”. Topaz, yes, but of
some other stripe, with peach tones, red, oranges, cognac and sherry
shades, etc. Hmmm… How about “Candlelight Topaz” ? (Copyright,
copyright !)
Brian Corll
Brian Corll, Inc.
1002 East Simpson Street
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Tel.: (717) 691-0286
I am enjoying ths discussion of my true birthstone…I have loved
imperial topaz since I was a child something about those warm firey
tones I have seen many non imperials passed off as imperials but
once you see the real thing there is no way to mistake anything else
for it…in my humble opinion