The Imperial Topaz is a 17.03 X 11.49 mm round gemstone with concave cut faceting.  The gem has a weight of 22.04 carats.  It has had no treatments.  It is set in four prong sterling silver basket settings and includes a 20" sterling silver cable chain, 4 mm wide with a lobster claw clasp, made in Italy.  I purchased this topaz in 2008.  Its origin is Brazil.
The topaz colour is a medium light reddish orange; strong.  The seller of the gemstones to me added the colour modifier golden peach orange.  Topaz, as well as some other gemstones like Kunzite, tend to fade if left in direct sunlight.  As I have stored the gem properly, and am providing a padded gift box for storage, you can be sure your topaz will remain an important part of your jewelry collection for years to come.
The topaz has a clarity grading of IF, eye clean, internally flawless, very small, very few inclusions are seen with the aid of a 10X's loupe.  The topaz has outstanding lustre.  
Concave faceting involves cutting pavilion facets to curve inward, usually in conjunction with some flat facets on the crown.  The curved facets scatter more light into the interior of the stone than traditional flat facets, resulting in a more brilliant gem.  The difference is noticeable even to the untrained eye.

Topaz commonly occurs in colourless and brown.  It is the rare golden, orange, pink, red and purple colours, which are often termed "precious" or "imperial" topaz.  Yellow and brown topaz owe their colour to colour centers.  The impurity chromium produces pink to red colours.  A combination of colour centers and chromium produces orange topaz.  

Topaz means a yellow gem, and much citrine and smoky quartz have been sold as "golden topaz" and "smoky topaz."  The terms "imperial" and "precious" topaz are used to distinguish between true topaz and the quartz look alikes.

Gem topaz has been found at a number of different localities around the world, including Brazil, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Russia, Burma, Pakistan, USA and Mexico.  The premier source is near Ouro Preto in Brazil's Minas Gerais state.  Brazil does not let their topaz leave their country without first being faceted by them.  I have not found otherwise.  This is an excellent cut gemstone.

Imperial topaz generally looks best under incandescent light.  I have taken the pictures with LED lighting.  The photos have been enlarged to show details.  I have pictured the necklace next to a .50 cent piece for size reference.

The most valuable precious topaz is a rich pink or red colour.  Sizes above 5 carats are rare.  Precious topaz (Imperial topaz) in rich orange colours are next.  The orange coloured topaz can be found in large (10 carats +) sizes.  Precious topaz from most sources is reasonably clean, with the exception of the pink and red.  It is not necessary to choose a heavily included topaz gemstone, as the clean Imperial topaz are still available. 

I will be including the original item description with pictures from the seller of the gemstone to me which will authenticate its pedigree and origin.  This is the gemstones provenance & should always remain with the necklace.  On 9/30/2008, GemVal, online gemstone appraisers has estimated the approximate value of an Imperial Topaz with this weight, colour, clarity, cut & shape to have a web market value of $3,700 USD.  I will be including this information also.  Returns will not be accepted without these records.

I use high quality metals in the jewelry settings. I did not use silver plated settings. The settings are .925 sterling silver and is the 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 1" X 1" anti-tarnish tabs.  This is the same technology used by NASA, The Guggenheim Museum, The British Royal Mint & jewelry manufacturers worldwide.  The tab 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.  It is best to store your earrings as received in the box.  The box is ideal for storing as it protects your jewelry from scratching each other.  Topaz is 8 on Mohs' scale of hardness.

Cleaning of this gem should only involve washing in warm, mild soapy water, and using a soft brush to clean the prong settings.  Rinse thoroughly when done and pat dry.  The chance of damage to a piece of jewelry with a ultrasonic cleaner is not worth the risk.

I guarantee my jewelry 100%.  If you are dissatisfied with your purchase, return your item, I accept returns. I do not charge a restocking fee on returned merchandise.  

Do you have questions?  I am always happy to answer your questions.  Visit my store, and you will see many more pieces of jewelry that are of the best quality and price.  Thank you for visiting.