A hefty blue Topaz with very good natural color and 188 grams weight. Mid 1960 era vintage crystal, this is quite glassy and has several transparent gem sections. However the crystal is cleaved as seen and has noticeable damage especially on backside / edge so it is a far less expensive piece yet still looks rather nice. This crystal was spared cutting (there is a lot of gem rough inside) and resided in an East Coast collection for nearly a half century. True blue Topaz (not treated or irradiated) is rare world-wide and this more vivid blue color is further limited to a very few localities. Not a piece for perfectionists, but a big and colorful gem crystal at below the gem-rough value for a collector who appreciates color.
Sharp, complete and gem clear Topaz from the famed Thomas Range of Utah. From the collection of Les Hitchings, collected before 1970. A tiny bit of Rhyolite matrix is present as are many small sparkling clear Topaz crystals. The color of these is often described as Cognac and that seems about right, well above average for one of these, the luster is super glassy. An excellent value and far more impressive in person.
Topaz - clear gem crystal
stock #24.1-182
Sakangyi-Kyauk-Pyat-That, Mogok, Pyin-Oo-Lwin,
Mandalay Division,
Myanmar (Burma)
2.7 x 1.8 x 1.6 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $240
Sharp and water-clear transparent Topaz crystal with very bright luster. From the pegmatite of Sakangyi, it is perfectly formed and undamaged. Sadly the current state in Myanmar is very much in chaos and no mining of any sort is going on. This may take a very long time to resolve. The complex mineralogy of this region has produced many incredible finds and is of course world famed for the gem Corundum found there. Topaz like this can be fantastic, showing these very elegant and complex terminations, prism modifications and very sharp form.
Topaz - classic Russian, on Feldspar, Quartz
stock #ARET 16.1-597
Murzinka Mine,Sarapulka Dist., Sverdlovskaya Oblast, Middle Urals
Urals Region,
Russia
5.4 x 3.2 x 3 CM (small cabinet/large miniature)
price: $560
Pre Tucson
A 2.5 CM tall gem clear colorless Topaz crystal rises above the contrasting Matrix. The Topaz is undamaged, in impeccable condition, the matrix has some bruising but it is the matrix and not at all a detriment. A very nice composition over all, good Topaz from the Urals is something of a mineralogical prize and highly respected by collectors. A very good value for the quality and esthetics.
HOLD Topaz - classic German gems
stock #HOLD 23.FC-045
Schneckenstein cliff, (Konigskrone Mine) Kielberg Mt.Klinginthal, Vogtla
Saxony,
Germany
8.8 x 6.5 x 4 CM (cabinet)
price: $1600
Early summer 2023
A superb specimen from this ancient locality, ex Paul Fitte collection. The Schnechenstein Topaz have been prized for centuries and mined starting in 1727, shortly after it was taken over by Augustus the Strong and the site was renamed Konigskrone (Kings Crown). The best Topaz were found in the next two decades and some minor production up until 1796. The finest yellow gem crystals have been prized in collections worldwide ever since. These have also been studied and described by many of the early mineralogists, they are quintessential classics. The area has been completely closed since 1938, any large and fine specimen like this is very old and very rare in such quality. The display face is covered with transparent sharp Topaz crystals most of which are a good yellow, a few are colorless, nestled in Quartz crystals. The largest Topaz is 2 CM, big for the locality. More unusual is the many terminated gem crystals on the matrix, most specimens only have two or so. Overall in fine condition this is the very best example we have had from this famed place.
Good matrix examples of Imperial Topaz are incredibly rare. Most of these crystals are recovered loose, the rare matrix pieces are typically badly broken fragments. This is quite unusual with three distinct gemmy crystals, the largest at 3.6 CM long in a hard ironstone (Hematite-rich sandstone) block. These crystals are also vividly fluorescent with a red to red-orange color, most Imperial topaz does not fluoresce but we have seen some that glow a yellow to yellow-green. On this specimen only one crystal shows a full termination and there is damage as seen, so this is not a display specimen for perfectionists but it is still impressive and very uncommon.
Topaz - etched gem
stock #19.1-531
Teofilo Otoni, Mucuri Valley
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
5.5 x 2.9 x 1.7 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $160
A nicely etched and perfectly transparent crystal of Topaz that is clean gem inside. 33.2 grams in weight and colorless, the crystal shows complex and varied etchings over all its surfaces, the vertical lines on some sides seem to be remnants of original striations. An older specimen, there is some included clay deep in some of the etched zones that adds a little contrast, otherwise this looks like ice.
Topaz on Rhyolite
stock #21.1-336
Topaz Mountain, Thomas Range, Juab County
Utah,
United States
6.4 x 5.6 x 5.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $490
Late Summer 2021
A perfect, gem clear sherry colored Topaz crystal perched on a hard Rhyolite matrix. This classic locality is famed for Topaz and this is an especially choice piece with unusual perfection and no fading to the rich color. Even under 20x magnification this is undamaged. This does not have dark inclusions or interior cleaving lines inside as most do, it is eye-clean gem. This zone continues to produce a few nice pieces each year to dedicated diggers but the quality of this piece is far beyond most found. Most crystals of this size or larger are far less clear or even opaque.
.jpg)
.jpg)