In the ancient world topaz came from Topazion, an Island in the Red Sea now called Zabargad. In the ancient world, topaz was thought to protect against evil and to the ancient Egyptians, the sparkle of topaz symbolized "Ra", their sun god. Eight very elegant 4mm pale blue color blue topaz gemstones from Russia, very delicate both in both hue and texture. The origin of the gemstones are the Southern Ural Mountains of Siberia, Russia. The Southern Urals have been fabled for the production of the gemstones of the Russian Czars for centuries. The topaz was handcrafted in the 1950’s in Bombay, India into beautiful little spheres and then hand drilled. India of course is well known for its skilled gemstone cutters – and that’s where we found them, in Bombay. We mounted these antique gemstones onto contemporary 14kt gold fill french hooks. The hooks as well as the pins are 14kt gold fill, not cheap gold electroplate. They could also be remounted onto kidney wires, lever backs, euroclicks, or ball studs if you would prefer; or remounted onto solid 14kt gold or sterling silver. It's a first-class piece of jewelry throughout. Though the gemstones are antique, and hand matched in Bombay, the settings are contemporary.

The name "topaz" was derived from the Greek word “topazios”, “to guess”. Topazion was the name given by the Greeks to a small island in the Red Sea. The source of topaz for the ancient world, the island was often obscured by fog, making it difficult for early navigators to find, hence the name. In the ancient world, topaz was thought to protect against evil and was used to treat many different ailments including asthma. To the ancient Egyptians the glow of yellow topaz symbolized "Ra", their sun god. Greeks called on the Topaz to give them strength, and wore topaz as an amulet to ward off enchantment, dispel sadness and strengthen intellect. In Medieval Europe, topaz was thought to heal both physical and mental disorders, and to prevent death. When worn as an amulet, topaz drove away sadness, added intelligence, gave courage, and could dispel enchantments. Topaz powdered and drunk in wine, it was believed, cured asthma, insomnia, burns and hemorrhages. Today topaz is regarded as a stone of true love and capable of attracting success in all endeavors. It is believed to promote creativity and individuality, and regarded as capable of replacing negativity with love and joy.

Domestic shipping (insured first class mail) is included in the price shown.  Domestic shipping also includes USPS Delivery Confirmation (you might be able to update the status of your shipment on-line at the USPS Web Site).  Canadian shipments are an extra $16.99 for Insured Air Mail; International shipments are an extra $20.99 for Air Mail (and generally are NOT tracked; trackable shipments are EXTRA).  ADDITIONAL PURCHASES do receive a VERY LARGE discount, typically about $5 per item so as to reward you for the economies of combined shipping/insurance costs. Your purchase will ordinarily be shipped within 48 hours of payment.  We package as well as anyone in the business, with lots of protective padding and containers.  

We do NOT recommend uninsured shipments, and expressly disclaim any responsibility for the loss of an uninsured shipment.  Unfortunately the contents of parcels are easily “lost” or misdelivered by postal employees – even in the USA.  If you intend to pay via PayPal, please be aware that PayPal Protection Policies REQUIRE insured, trackable shipments, which is INCLUDED in our price.  International tracking is at additional cost.  We do offer U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail, Registered Mail, and Express Mail for both international and domestic shipments, as well United Parcel Service (UPS) and Federal Express (Fed-Ex). Please ask for a rate quotation.  We will accept whatever payment method you are most comfortable with.  If upon receipt of the item you are disappointed for any reason whatever, I offer a no questions asked return policy.  Send it back, I will give you a complete refund of the purchase price (less our original shipping costs).

We travel to Russia each year seeking antique gemstones and jewelry from one of the globe’s most prolific gemstone producing and cutting centers, the area between Chelyabinsk and Yekaterinburg, Russia.  From all corners of Siberia, as well as from India, Ceylon, Burma and Siam, gemstones have for centuries gone to Yekaterinburg where they have been cut and incorporated into the fabulous jewelry for which the Czars and the royal families of Europe were famous for. My wife grew up and received a university education in the Southern Urals of Russia, just a few hours away from the mountains of Siberia, where alexandrite, diamond, emerald, sapphire, chrysoberyl, topaz, demantoid garnet, and many other rare and precious gemstones are produced.  Though perhaps difficult to find in the USA, antique gemstones are commonly unmounted from old, broken settings – the gold reused – the gemstones recut and reset. 

  Before these gorgeous antique gemstones are recut, we try to acquire the best of them in their original, antique, hand-finished state – most of them centuries old.  We believe that the work created by these long-gone master artisans is worth protecting and preserving rather than destroying this heritage of antique gemstones by recutting the original work out of existence.  That by preserving their work, in a sense, we are preserving their lives and the legacy they left for modern times.  Far better to appreciate their craft than to destroy it with modern cutting.  Not everyone agrees – fully 95% or more of the antique gemstones which come into these marketplaces are recut, and the heritage of the past lost.  But if you agree with us that the past is worth protecting, and that past lives and the produce of those lives still matters today, consider buying an antique, hand cut, natural gemstone rather than one of the mass-produced machine cut (often synthetic or “lab produced”) gemstones which dominate the market today.

  Our interest in the fabulous history of Russian gemstones and the fabulous jewelry of the Czar’s led to further education and contacts in India, Ceylon, and Siam, other ancient centers of gemstone production and finishing.  We have a number of “helpers” (family members, friends, and colleagues) in Russia and in India who act as eyes and ears for us year-round, and in reciprocity we donate a portion of our revenues to support educational institutions in Russia and India.  Occasionally while in Russia, India, Siam, and Ceylon we will also find such good buys on unique contemporary gemstones and jewelry that we will purchase a few pieces to offer to our customers here in America.  These are always offered clearly labeled as contemporary, and not antiques – just to avoid confusion.  We can set most any antique gemstone you purchase from us in your choice of styles and metals ranging from rings to pendants to earrings and bracelets; in sterling silver, 14kt solid gold, and 14kt gold fill.  When you purchase from us, you can count on quick shipping and careful, secure packaging.  We would be happy to provide you with a certificate/guarantee of authenticity for any item you purchase from me.  There is a $2 fee for mailing under separate cover.  Please see our "ADDITIONAL TERMS OF SALE."