Azotic Topaz Gemstone Information

Azotic topaz is a color-enhanced variety of colorless topaz. It is named after the company that invented the unique patented coating enhancement treatment, Azotic®. Azotic topaz obtains its unique rainbow-like colors through an extremely thin metallic coating of film deposition that reflects light in a variety of colors and interesting patterns.

Topaz is historically one of the most important gemstones available. It has a relatively high refractive index and a hardness level of 8 on the Mohs scale. It is a particularly popular gemstone for jewelers, mostly due to its extreme versatility and durability. It has no special sensitivity to chemicals, other than hot sulphuric acid, and it is popularly used for every type of jewelry application and design.

Azotic topaz displays a stunning rainbow-like color pattern and effect. It is very similar and often confused with mystic topaz and mystic quartz, which are also coated varieties of colorless topaz. Azotic topaz is typically lighter than mystic topaz and can usually be distinguished by its brighter colors. The color, brilliance and clarity of the final product depends very much on the quality, cut and polish of the original colorless or white topaz gemstone.

World Famous Topaz

There is also a beautiful topaz set in the Green Vault in Dresden, one of the world's most important gem collections. Topaz can be found in astonishingly large sizes. In 1964 blue topaz stones were found in the Ukraine, each weighing about 100 kg. The Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. displays cut topaz of several thousand carats each. A faceted yellow topaz, known as the American Golden Topaz, weighing 22,892.50 carats, is the largest cut yellow topaz in the world.

Identifying Azotic Topaz Azotic Topaz Origin Buying Azotic Topaz Azotic Topaz Gemological Properties Azotic Topaz Varieties Azotic Topaz Mythology Azotic Topaz Jewelry Azotic Topaz Gemstone Care
	Azotic Topaz Click to enlarge image

Topaz can be found in many sources around the world. Brazil (Minas Gerais) is the most important supplier for topaz, especially for highly desirable and valuable imperial topaz. Other important topaz deposits are found in Afghanistan, Australia, China, Japan, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, the United States and Zimbabwe.

Azotic Topaz Color

Azotic topaz displays all the colors of the rainbow in one stone. The shades of color are displayed in amazingly vibrant kaleidoscopic color. This designer gemstone is an affordable eye catching stunner of its own kind. Color preferences are meaningless since the full rainbow of colors is displayed.

Azotic Topaz Clarity and Luster

Transparent, eye clean topaz of the finest quality is typically selected for enhanced Azotic topaz. Brownish topaz or heavily included topaz would not make for an appealing gemstone after being coated. Topaz has an attractive vitreous luster when cut and polished. Most topaz is very clean and transparent, but translucent specimens can be found.

Azotic Topaz Cut and Shape

Natural topaz is available in a wide range of sizes and shapes, including many fancy shapes, such as hearts, trillions, flowers and carvings. Topaz with obvious inclusions is often cut en cabochon, but this does not typically apply to any 'coated' topaz. Coated topaz is almost always faceted and should not be re-cut due to the special metallic coating. Azotic topaz is typically cut with brilliant diamond-cuts to enhance the color and pattern. Cutting in step cuts or other styles would not maximize the color potential as brilliant cuts can.

Azotic Topaz Treatment

Colorless topaz is always untreated. Azotic topaz is made by taking natural topaz and depositing a thin film on the cut stone. The metallic layering results in a high level of light reflection in a wide range of colors and interesting patterns. Azotic topaz is typically heated at low temperatures to improve clarity and its colorful optical properties. Coated topaz should not be re-cut or re-polished as this will compromise the film coating responsible for the array of colors.

Please refer to our Gemstone Glossary for details of gemology-related terms.

Mystic Topaz

Topaz is a very abundant species and there are many different varieties of related gemstones. There are also many gems that closely resemble topaz, including aquamarine, chrysoberyl, citrine, beryl, spinel and tourmaline, to name a few. The most common gemstones that are specifically confused with Azotic topaz are mystic topaz, mystic quartz and Azotic quartz. Azotic specimens are typically lighter and brighter than mystic specimens, and topaz is much harder than quartz, making it easily identifiable.

Most Popular Related Gemstone Varieties:

Mystic topaz, rutile topaz, Swiss blue topaz, London blue topaz, sky blue and white topaz are the most popular and common topaz varieties.

Lesser-Known Related Gemstone Varieties:

Imperial topaz, sherry topaz, silver topaz, champagne topaz and pink topaz are the rarest varieties of precious topaz.

Azotic topaz is a high-tech achievement that successfully conquered nature. Future generations will decide whether the material will remain legendary in itself or not. Since Azotic topaz in the raw is still the same as general topaz, all the myths belonging to topaz also apply to Azotic specimens.

The Egyptians believed that topaz was colored with the golden glow of the mighty Sun God, Ra. This made topaz a very powerful amulet that protected the faithful against harm. The Romans associated topaz with Jupiter, their god of the sun. In ancient times it was believed that topaz improved eyesight. The Greeks trusted topaz's supernatural power to increase strength and make its wearer invisible in times of need. Topaz was also said to change color in the presence of poisoned food or drink. Its mystical curative powers changed with the phases of the moon. It was said to cure insomnia, asthma and hemorrhages.

Topaz is the birthstone for those who born in the month of November. It is also the stone of Jupiter and Sagittarius. Topaz is associated with the second chakra (located in the navel), and specific colors of topaz can benefit other areas of the body and other chakras as well.

Topaz of any type is a good jewelry stone, owing to its excellent hardness and like most topaz, Azotic topaz is an affordable stone for its carat weight. It is also available in large sizes, making it ideal for brooches and pendants. It is an excellent stone of choice for gemstone rings, and colorless topaz is often used as an alternative to diamond. Azotic topaz is mainly used for fashion jewelry, such as earrings, bracelets, necklaces, clips and pins.

Although topaz can be found in fine jewelry, Azotic topaz is limited to mainstream jewelry use. High-designer lines tend to prefer the rarer topaz varieties, such as imperial topaz. Azotic topaz is very popular for those who love color, and it appeals very well to the younger generation, while blue and white topaz are favored by more conservative and classic clientele.

Topaz is the official birthstone for November and many designers incorporate Azotic topaz into topaz birthstone jewelry. Topaz is very affordable and readily available in a multitude of shapes, sizes, cuts and colors.

Note: Buy colored gemstones by size and not by carat weight. Colored stones vary in size-to-weight ratio. Some stones are larger and others are smaller than diamond by weight in comparison.

Azotic topaz is considered to be one of the hardest gem types, rating 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness. However, because it has such distinct perfect cleavage, it can easily be split with a single blow. Azotic topaz should never be recut or repolished because of its special surface coating. Azotic topaz, along with other topaz varieties, is considered to be susceptible to hot sulfuric acid, so avoid the use of any chemicals or harsh cleaning agents.

Azotic topaz can be wiped clean using a soft cloth and a mild soap or detergent. Rinse Azotic topaz gemstones well to remove soapy residue, because this can cause the film to become clouded and affect its polish and luster. Some topaz varieties are known to fade under sunlight or extreme heat, but since Azotic topaz uses colorless topaz, color fading is not a common problem associated with Azotic specimens. Instead, Azotic topaz is most vulnerable in the areas it has been enhanced; the metallic coating. Since topaz is harder than most other minerals, Azotic topaz gemstones can easily scratch softer materials, including the metallic coating on other Azotic topaz stones. Uncoated areas, such as the crown of the stone, are just as durable as regular topaz. When storing Azotic topaz stones and jewelry, always wrap them in a soft cloth or place them inside a fabric-lined jewelry box to prevent scratches and fracturing.