Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2009 3:31 am Posts: 228 Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Hi, i would like to know if any of you heard about synthetic topaz? Is it only red one because of it's rarity and high cost? I'm sitting for my diploma exam and one of my teacher told me (after correction of an pre-exam) that synthetic topaz doesn't exist, Gem-A and G.I.A never mentioned it. I know that considerable size of blue internally flawless (irradiated) topaz can be found for cheap and that synthesis wouldn't be worth it. Any and every answer would be greatly apreciated.
Joined: Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:19 pm Posts: 590 Location: Las Vegas, NV
I don't have near the experience as other members, but my take is this:
As far as I know Synthetic Topaz doesn't exist and probably never will. There is a ton of Irradiated blue and coated (vapor deposition?) topaz on the market for cheap because Topaz is very plentiful, even in large sizes. I mean, I can go to Utah and literally collect pounds of facet-grade topaz in one weekend- for free! Some of the more desirable colors like the oranges and sherry-colored stones might be harder to come by (esp. large sizes) but colorless and extremely pale colors aren't too hard to find, and those are the ones treated. If I am wrong someone please correct me.
Joined: Tue May 08, 2012 5:26 am Posts: 28 Location: Sweden
The Institute of Experimental Mineralogy of Chernologovka, Russia published a report in 2000 where they succeded in growing gemquality topaz in a hydrothermal process. It was done on experimental basis and I do not know if there is any production going on anylonger.
Joined: Tue May 08, 2012 5:26 am Posts: 28 Location: Sweden
It is some time since I saw this article and I could not find the original online but will keep searching for it. In V. V. Bukanovs "Russian gemstones encyclopedia" there is a short notice on the synthesis of topaz carried out in 1976 wich is said not to be cost effective. Though he also mentiones that succesful production of imperial topaz had been carried out "reasonable from the commercial point of view." this was done with a hydrothermal method though no mention of when this was done. This book was published in 2006.
Joined: Tue May 08, 2012 5:26 am Posts: 28 Location: Sweden
here is a comercial jewelry site (in russian) http://tdsg.ru/page127.html that mentiones non-gemquality synthetic topaz as being something easily produced by a hydrothermal process. Even though they mention it as non-gemquality I do find it interresting that synthetic topaz is mentioned under these circumstances and I will not be surpriced when gemquality synthetic topaz turns up in the market.
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