Contrary to popular thought and memory, engagement rings, especially diamond rings, are not an “age old” tradition; it is a fairly new preference that was propelled by some very clever marketing about 150 years ago. Fortunately for the jewelry industry, the idea caught on in a very big way. Today, we associate blue topaz engagement rings with the ultimate symbol of love, a symbol of the life-long commitment of two people.

The hottest trend in blue topaz engagement rings today are those designed for men. Other trends involve rings that are not diamond-based, but display a variety of gemstones like rubies, emeralds, pearls, sapphires, and blue topaz. Since blue topaz engagement rings are not only a Western or American tradition, other countries such as Japan, Ireland, Germany and Sweden have their own popular styles.

What Should I Look for in an Engagement Ring?

First, keep in mind that you will be wearing this particular ring for a very long time. (Hopefully) You will probably be wearing it every day of your life. Thus, the ring needs to be sturdy in construction. For the band, the most durable metal by far is platinum. It is virtually indestructible, but is also very expensive. Recently titanium has begun to rival platinum as a band setting because it’s extremely durable and much less expensive than platinum. Even with these advantages, a platinum setting in an engagement ring not only holds its value over time, but the ring will even increase in value.

Gold, white gold, and silver are popular band settings for engagement rings. They are not only beautiful, but hardy as well. Softer metals are not recommended since an engagement ring can take a beating over time. Gold bands should be either 14 or 18 carats; 9-carat rings are not considered sufficiently durable. Sterling silver bands should be either 925 or 375 in quality.

When it comes to choosing a gemstone for your blue topaz engagement ring, diamonds are not the only “proper” stone; this concept is the clever invention of the diamond industry. All over the world, gemstones like sapphires, emeralds, rubies, chrysoberyl, white or pink pearls, and spinel. In fact, these hard, durable gemstones were the engagement rings of European royalty in the 1700’s and 1800’s, with diamonds added only in the last century.

Increasingly popular are blue topaz engagement rings that consist of several different types of precious gemstones. You might choose a ring with a ruby in the middle, with diamonds on each side. Alternatively, you might like a diamond ring surrounded by sapphires. These rings are not only crafted by gemologists in bulk, but you can also order a custom-made ring that consists of the birthstones of the bride and groom.

Choose the engagement ring that best suits your taste. It’s yours for life, so let your love and your creativity be your guide.

One of the most versatile and stunning gemstone is Blie Topaz, the birthstone for November born. There are a lot of interesting things to know about this gemstone.

Different Varieties

This gemstone comes in many colors and can be cut in a variety of flattering ways. The most common colors are probably blue and yellow. However, few come out of the ground naturally colored. The only natural blue mines are found in England, Ireland and Scotland so to make up for the small supply, the color has to be pulled out. Typically, white gemstones are used to obtain blue stones. They are actually exposed to radiation and then heated to set the color. So, if you find a natural blue topaz and diamond necklace, you will pay a pretty penny for it because of its rarity.

Where do they come from?

Most of these gems come out of Brazil, but there are several other mines across the world. Many locations are in Asia- China, Japan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Other areas include parts of the United States, Mexico and parts of Africa. The only natural blue deposits are found in England, Ireland and Scotland.

The November Birthstone

The month of November claims this gemstone as its own. In November, topaz rings are commonly purchased as birthday presents. With the variety of colors to choose from, you can take this opportunity to show your individuality. You don’t have to go with the crowd and wear yellow or blue. And, if you really want to surprise people, try a mystic fire topaz ring. What’s that? The bottom of a white stone is coated with a layer of titanium which creates a prism of vibrant colors as light passes through it.

How to care for your gemstones

This gemstone ranks 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness which means that it is fairly durable. If you try to crack or chip your topaz ring, you can. But, every day wear is fine for your jewelry. Normal cleaning at your local jewelers is fine and at home, you can soak it in warm soapy water and then wipe with a soft cloth.

History and lore

Like many gemstones, this one is believed to have magical properties. If you are worried about being poisoned, a topaz ring is supposed to help you detect the lethal substance. It is also believed to protect you from sudden death. If you are interested in topaz for these reasons, you may have bigger problems than jewelry! They not only protect you from your enemies, they also symbolize success because of their beauty and elegance.

The largest cut stone is found at The Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. This yellow variety is nearly 23,000 carats! There are several other large cut stones on display. There is a 1680 carat gemstone in the Portuguese crown and is stored in Dresden, Germany.

Color and cut is a personal preference and this gemstone offers you a variety of choices. Whether you were born in November or not, you can find a stone- a sparkling mystic fire topaz ring or a mellow yellow topaz ring- that fits your style and personality.

Blue Topaz has become one of the most popular gemstone on the market today, because of its clarity, durability, availability and affordable cost. Yet, it is a shade of Topaz rarely found in nature. The stone’s watery blue color is most often created through a combination of heat treatment and irradiation.

Topaz is one of the well known pegmatite minerals that also includes beryl and tourmaline. Blue Topaz is the birth stone for month of December and is also recommended gemstone for couples celebrating their 4th wedding anniversary.

Blue Topaz has a definite, uniform color ranging from sky blue to Swiss blue. It is sometimes confused with the more costly Aquamarine, yet whereas Aquamarine sometimes has a greenish blue or bluish green tint, Blue Topaz will always look blue or bluish gray. The one exception is for surface enhanced Topaz, a process introduced in 1998 that enhances the stone’s appearance and brings out colors such as blue to greenish to emerald green.

Most Blue Topaz starts life as a colorless or slightly tinted Topaz from places like Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and china. It is then irradiated, to incite the color change, and heated, to stabilize the change. The result is a permanent Aqua shade. To get deep blue color out of Topaz, treaters use neutron bombardment in a nuclear reactor and market the final product under the name “London Blue” Topaz. In fact, neutron bombardment is the only means by which to produce smaller calibrated stones with deep blue color.

Despite the stone’s exposer to irradiation, expert say it poses no health hazard whatsoever to the wearer. 
In addition to blue, the stone comes in a variety of colors, including golden yellow, orange yellow, reddish orange, sherry red, deep pink, honey brown, light green, and many shades in between.

Topaz holds the distinction of being the gemstone thought to have the wildest rage of curative powers. According to legend, the stone can dispel enchantment and improve the eyesight. The ancient Greeks believed that it had the power to increase strength and make its wearer invisible in times of emergency. Topaz is also said to change color in the presence of poisoned food or drink. Throughout history, different cultures have believed that the stone could cure insomnia, asthma and hemorrhages; bring friendship; promote patience and a pleasant disposition, and ensure fidelity. To the ancients, it was also a symbol of love and affection and was even thought to ward off sudden death.

With A ranking of 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, Blue Topaz is exceptionally strong and durable and well suited to everyday wear. However, it should be protected against hard blows that can split, crack or chip it.

Good morning – I am looking for a picture of a Princess cut Diamond engagement ring with two blue topaz stones on either sides of the white Diamond. If anyone can find a picture of that it would mean alot. I have looked everywhere for it but cant find it! Please help!
Thanks