HPJ REFERENCE POINT: STUNNING 8.02 CT FLAWLESS BABY BLUE BRAZILIAN TOPAZ

 Reference Point

TWO ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL BRAZILIAN TOPAZ’S FROM HPJ THIS WEEK – ONE PINK & ONE BLUE. ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME SIZES – UNIQUE EARRINGS FOR THE BOLD & FASHIONABLE...

BREATHTAKING & BEAUTIFUL 8.02 CARAT FLAWLESS ‘SWISS BABY BLUE’ BRAZILIAN TOPAZ

GEM TYPE: TOPAZ

CARAT WEIGHT: 8.02 CARATS

COLOUR: SWISS BABY BLUE

CLARITY: IF

DIMENSIONS: 11.79 x 10.72 x 7.99mm

CUT: ROUND CUT

ORIGIN: MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL

TREATMENTS: ROUTINELY TREATED

Deposits of Topaz have been found in Brazil, Afghanistan, Australia, Myanmar (Burma), China, Germany, Japan, Madagascar, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and the USA. Natural light-blue Topaz is found in Northern Ireland and the UK. Enormous Topaz crystals have been discovered in Minas Gerais (Brazil) and Ukraine.

MINERAL: TOPAZ

CHEMISTRY: Al2(F,OH)2SiO4

REFRACTIVE INDEX: 1.619 to 1.627

BIREFRINGENCE: 0.008 to 0.010

SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 3.53

MOHS HARDNESS: 8

MINAS GERAIS

During the last 100 years, the cities of Governador Valadares, and Teófilo Otoni,to the north-east, have established themselves as major hubs of the gem-trading industry, due to their proximity to some of the richest gem deposits in Brazil. 

During the 1700s, when Minas Gerais was under Portuguese control, gold and gem mining labor was conducted by slaves taken from the west coast of Africa. This accounts for the large percentage of African descendants who now populate the region.