Topaz is a gemstone that comes in many different colours including white, blue, pink, and orange. Topaz is reasonably scratch-resistant, being an 8/10 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. It is the birthstone of November, along with Citrine.
Some believe topaz to help channel wisdom, beauty, and intelligence.
It is thought that topaz got its name from an island in the Red Sea, St. John’s Island or Zabargad, that used to be known as ‘Topazios’. The island’s name is said to derive from the Greek word ‘topazos’, which means ‘to seek’. However, it is now thought that topaz was not mined from this island, but was mistaken for another gemstone, such as peridot.
Topaz has been known and used for thousands of years for a variety of reasons. It was used as a strength talisman by the ancient Greeks, and was believed to protect against spells and magic during the Middle Ages in Europe.
In Portuguese, the colourless topaz is sometimes referred to as ‘pingos d’agua’, meaning ‘water drops’.
