Blue topaz is a very attractive gemstone, and affordable to everyone's budget. Blue topaz does occur naturally, but the blue topaz is very pale in nature. Nearly all commercially available blue topaz has been irradiated and heat treated to produce their color and improve their appearance. This treatment is acceptable in the trade and produces a stable colour and is permanent. There are distinct hues of blue topaz, the most common colours are Sky blue, Swiss blue and London blue.
Swiss Blue topaz begins by treating a natural topaz with neutron and/or electron treatment. The gem is then heated at 200* for 180 hours. The gem is then cooled off for 8 months. It takes a minimum of 9 months to produce the Swiss Blue colour. Not to many producers are willing to keep the gems out of production for this long, and it is really quite scarce. Topaz is 8 on Mohs hardness scale, a very durable gemstone.
Because of the nature of it's crystal structure, topaz has one plane in which its bonds are relatively weak. If topaz receives a sharp blow in the wrong place or direction, it can easily break cleanly in two. It should not be too great a concern in normal jewelry use, now that the stone is mounted. This is why a topaz should never be cleaned in a mechanical cleaner. It is best to clean your topaz jewelry in warm soapy water, followed by a rinse in clean water and patted dry.
I purchased the semi mount pendant with the tanzanite and white topaz already set. I purchased and set the Swiss Blue topaz separately. The majority of gemstones in the market today have been heat treated to improve their color and appearance. Gemstones that have obvious inclusions that cause a negative effect on the overall appearance or durability of my jewelry are never used. Item arrives in a gift box.
I use high quality metals in the jewelry settings. I do not use silver plated settings. The settings are .925 sterling silver and is a standard for silver. It is called .925 because it is an alloy that is 925 parts out of a thousand silver. It is allowed for the other 75 parts to be other metals (usually copper) to enhance the strength, because pure silver is very soft and not structurally strong enough for many jewelry applications. Other "silver settings" come with different elements in their composition. German/Nickel Silver, which is an alloy consisting of copper, zinc and nickel, contains no silver. Many people have allergic reactions to nickel. Other settings may be called Mexican Silver, Indian Silver, Montana Silver, Pewter, Tin, Pot or Base Metal or simply silver. The content of these are less clear and do not guarantee the quantity or silver content. .925 is the best form of silver. It is durable and has a high sheen. Sterling Silver is considered a precious metal.
Inside the gift box, I am including two 1" X 1" anti-tarnish tabs. The tabs provides protection from tarnish for up to 12 months. It does not leave deposits on items it protects. It is non-toxic, non-abrasive, and will not scratch or harm metals or gemstones. Each tab protects up to 30 cubic inches on container space. Too protect all your jewelry, store the jewelry in the included lock tight plastic bags with the tabs. Each gem has its own hardness, the bag will prevent scratching of other jewelry.
I guarantee my jewelry 100%. If you are dissatisfied with your purchase, return your item and I will gladly refund your purchase price. I do not charge a restocking fee on returned items. You will be pleased to know what a good price you are getting.
I am always happy to answer your questions. Take a look at my other items in Meet the Seller information, and ebay will create a list for you. Thank you for visiting my store.