White Topaz Round Rose-Cut Cabochon

This round rose-cut white topaz is a great choice for designs that call for a hard white gemstone with a vintage look. The bright-white color means that it is complements nearly any gem. White topaz is valued for its brilliant white color and economical price. Because it is a natural gemstone, it may contain natural impurities and presents a level of fire more similar to that of a diamond than does a lab-created gem. This faceted gemstone offers a bright, eye-clean clarity. Topaz is one of the birthstones for November. A hard, usually transparent aluminum silicate gem material, topaz has a brilliance that rivals more expensive gemstones, making it an economical alternative to more costly gems. An "8" on the Mohs scale, topaz is tough and durable, ideal for all types of jewelry. Topaz forms in an orthorhombic structure with crystals that are usually prismatic. Pure topaz is colorless; impurities give the gemstone color. Gemstones can appear in a range of colors, with natural pink being the rarest. Most topaz colors are heat-treated or irradiated to enhance their color. In folklore, this gemstone is believed to dispel sadness and fear, to ward off poisons and to reverse infertility. A favorite of yesteryear, this rose-cut faceting features a flat base (no pavilion) and a crown made up of triangular facets.