What Is White Topaz?
White topaz is a colorless variety of topaz, a silicate mineral that exists in a lot of different colors.
White topaz oval-cut gemstone
In fact, in its purest form, topaz is actually transparent, and the hues of its colored varieties result from impurities present in the mineral.
White topaz is very cheap, especially compared with other stones such as emerald, ruby, or diamond.
White Topaz as a Diamond Substitute
Because of its color and low price, white topaz is often used as a diamond substitute.
However, stones such as cubic zirconia and moissanite are much better in this regard – their hardness and appearance are closer to those of real diamond.
Evaluating White Topaz
The appearance of white topaz depends on its main quality characteristics, which also determine its price.
Let’s take a look at these factors:
Color: White topaz is transparent, but it can contain natural impurities that can affect its color. If you are looking for a stone to wear as a diamond imitation, find a white topaz that is perfectly colorless.
Clarity: Like all other gemstones, white topaz can have natural internal flaws (inclusions) such as lines, spots, crystal formations, etc.
Stones that have few imperfections are more valuable. Look for white topaz gems that are as clean as possible to the naked eye
Cut: Depending on your taste, you can select a white topaz gemstone that is cut in a shape of your preference. White topaz stones used as diamond substitutes can often be cut round.
Whatever shape you choose, if the stone will be set in a piece of jewelry, make sure that the white topaz is not cut too deep. Otherwise, most of the stone’s surface will remain hidden in the setting when the gem is mounted.
Carat: The size you choose for your white topaz is up to you, but keep in mind that the imperfections in a bigger stone will be more noticeable.
Also, if you are going to use a white topaz stone as a fake diamond, the bigger the stone, the more obvious it will be that it is not the real thing since white topaz doesn’t have the brilliance and sparkle of diamond.
White Topaz and Durability
White topaz is relatively hard – it measures 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness. However, this stone is significantly softer than diamond (which is 10 on the same scale).
You should expect that your white topaz will scratch over time when worn. Despite its relatively high Mohs-scale rating, this stone is not that hard to break, so you should protect it from sharp blows.
