Two gems from the Smithsonian’s National Gem Collection are striking examples of November's official birthstone. The first is an 875.4-carat crystal and the second is a 93.6-carat faceted companion, both Imperial Topaz once owned by John A. Roebling II, the grandson of the Brooklyn Bridge designer. Their fiery golden-to-reddish-orange hues provide a vivid example of why Imperial Topaz is one of the rarest and most coveted gemstones in the world.
Imperial Topaz’s story can be traced back to the Ural Mountains of Russia, where 18th-century deposits first caught the attention of European jewelers. By the 19th century, the most exquisite pinkish-golden stones were reserved exclusively for the tsars, inspiring the “Imperial” name. Today, however, Russia’s sources are largely depleted, and Brazil has become the world’s primary supplier. The Ouro Preto region of Minas Gerais, Brazil, produces the most celebrated specimens, including those with deep golden, fiery orange and rare pinkish tones.
The vibrant colors of Imperial Topaz are largely influenced by the presence of trace elements, such as iron and chromium in the crystal lattice. Iron contributes to yellow, golden and reddish-orange tones, while small amounts of chromium can produce subtle pinkish shades.
Brazilian topaz is renowned for its exceptional clarity, large crystal sizes and world-class color range. Over the past two centuries, this region has produced some of the finest topaz specimens known to the jewelry world, and the legacy continues today with gems like those in the Smithsonian collection. Other notable topaz sources include Mexico, Sri Lanka, Africa and China, but none rival the historical and modern significance of Brazilian Imperial Topaz.
Topaz as a gemstone family is versatile, appearing in shades from colorless to pale green, blue, brown and yellow. Blue topaz, familiar to many contemporary jewelry buyers, is commonly treated to achieve its vibrant hue, while the warm golden and reddish-orange colors of Imperial Topaz remain a testament to natural beauty and geological rarity. Beyond its visual appeal, topaz carries symbolic weight as a talisman for Sagittarians and a traditional gift for 23rd and 50th wedding anniversaries.
From the courts of Russian tsars to the highland mines of Minas Gerais, Imperial Topaz continues to captivate collectors and jewelry enthusiasts alike. The Roebling stones at the Smithsonian offer a vivid reminder of why this gemstone has long been regarded as one of the most treasured varieties of topaz. The other official birthstone for November is citrine.
Credit: Photo by Chip Clark and digitally enhanced by SquareMoose / courtesy of Smithsonian.