General Information
Coated Pink and Mystic Topaz
05 March 2007 19:37 | Permalink
Recently the Australian retail jewellery market
has been inundated with pink and other unusual
coloured Topaz. Generally this material is
colourless topaz thinly coated with metallic
oxides that produce a range of colours including
pink and a bluish purple named "Mystic Topaz".
This coating can be scratched or polished off
easily.
Natural pink topaz is extremely rare and is generally found in small crystals, i.e. under 1 carat. If you are presented with large stones or a suite of matching stones, it is most likely to be coated topaz.
Detection is possible. The coating is produced by a "sputtering" method that leaves a dot-like appearance on the surface that is visible under magnification. Stones are generally poorly polished and chips or scratches will reveal the presence of the coating. The surface can also show a "metallic" lustre. This treatment must always be disclosed to the customer and explained that the colour is not natural and may not be permanent if worn roughly.
Conway Jewellers does not sell this sort of gemstone.
Information courtesy of Hamid Bros.
Natural pink topaz is extremely rare and is generally found in small crystals, i.e. under 1 carat. If you are presented with large stones or a suite of matching stones, it is most likely to be coated topaz.
Detection is possible. The coating is produced by a "sputtering" method that leaves a dot-like appearance on the surface that is visible under magnification. Stones are generally poorly polished and chips or scratches will reveal the presence of the coating. The surface can also show a "metallic" lustre. This treatment must always be disclosed to the customer and explained that the colour is not natural and may not be permanent if worn roughly.
Conway Jewellers does not sell this sort of gemstone.
Information courtesy of Hamid Bros.