Post subject: Real Light Blue Topaz?? Please help.
Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2022 3:35 pm
Established Member
Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2022 10:12 pm Posts: 11
I’m just in the beginning of my gem obsession so please excuse me if any terms aren’t used correctly. But I purchased this from a seller who said it was clear Topaz, but it’s light blue.
Before I swap it for clear, want to ensure this is authentic.
Has bubble inclusions, some seemingly perfectly round, some not. No horse hair/tail inclusions from what I can see. Scratch test scratches glass, without being scratched itself. My Moh’s kit can’t be ordered for another week otherwise I’d give the hardness :/
Magnified photo is via 10x loop.
Please help!? I greatly appreciate any insight!
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Post subject: Re: Real Light Blue Topaz?? Please help.
Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2022 2:52 am
Gold Member
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2016 7:58 pm Posts: 1424 Location: San Marcos, CA
Looks like topaz. Also looks like beryl. But possibly Fluorite to or just glass see where I'm going?. Pictures are pictures not a real sure way to give a solid result. Just like your scratch testing not really providing one either. Bubbles = glass in most cases. Get an SG and a RI if you can.
Post subject: Re: Real Light Blue Topaz?? Please help.
Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2022 11:20 am
Gemology Online Veteran
Joined: Sat May 22, 2010 2:51 am Posts: 755 Location: South Africa
Getstoned - A warning about scratch hardness tests. Mineral hardness can vary with direction of the scratch, so when you have your hardness kit remember to test the hardness on several different surfaces and in different directions. Practise first on known material, like quartz and glass.
Topaz has one direction of 'perfect' (easy) cleavage. In a rough stone you may be able to see parallel internal cracks, or small parallel steps on the outside. I suspect from the photographs that both your stones are beryl. The veils of bubbles are common in aquamarine.
You can test for glass easily if you have polaroid sunglasses or 3D movie spectacles. Hold the glasses (with the arms facing away from you if they are 3D movie spectacles) in front of a white computer screen and rotate until the view goes black. Then hold the stone in front of the screen and rotate it, in various orientations. If it is glass it will tend to remain dark. If it is beryl or topaz in many orientations it will go dark and light alternately four times in a full rotation. Don't rely on testing in only one orientation of the crystal. (This works for all crystals except those in the isometric (cubic) crystal system, i.e garnet, diamond, spinel, etc. which also tend to remain dark like glass in all orientations.)
Post subject: Re: Real Light Blue Topaz?? Please help.
Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2022 11:58 pm
Established Member
Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2022 10:12 pm Posts: 11
They perform well using the computer screen test, compared directly with glass. So both the Aquamarine and Topaz are either Beryl or the Topaz is true topaz. The Aquamarine performs better than the Topaz.
It was extremely interesting and informative to perform this test. Thank you. Also grateful to have the tips !
I’m definitely going to swap it for the clear topaz and will report back. As well as the result of the Moh’s. Is there a convenient way to measure the specific gravity? Of course I’ll google it. Haha
Post subject: Re: Real Light Blue Topaz?? Please help.
Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2022 2:47 pm
Gold Member
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2016 7:58 pm Posts: 1424 Location: San Marcos, CA
It seems to me that every pic you provided has something bluish in it. The light, background, gray putty. What is your plan for this rough? Agree with Barbra colorless or just plain sky blue topaz is quite abundant and very affordable.
Post subject: Re: Real Light Blue Topaz?? Please help.
Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2022 11:52 pm
Established Member
Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2022 10:12 pm Posts: 11
I don’t care about the worth.
Also, I’m technically trained to see color and have a Konica Minolta light box. It’s light blue.
I was after clear. And am confident now this seller has what I need and feel better about doing business with him. Thank you all so much for the guidance and help.
Just to give an idea I've bought topaz of this grade for something like 15 dollars a pound in the past. Nicely formed colorless crystals can be had for very reasonable prices.
Post subject: Re: Real Light Blue Topaz?? Please help.
Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2022 12:35 pm
Gold Member
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2016 7:58 pm Posts: 1424 Location: San Marcos, CA
Getstoned wrote:
I don’t care about the worth.
Also, I’m technically trained to see color and have a Konica Minolta light box. It’s light blue.
I was after clear. And am confident now this seller has what I need and feel better about doing business with him. Thank you all so much for the guidance and help.
No accusations being made here, just an observation based on the pics.
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