Topaz

Topaz is the recognized birthstone for the month of November.

Most people are familiar with the transparent golden yellow of the topaz. The Pharaohs of Egypt often compared the topaz to their sun god Ra for this brilliant golden yellow. However, this stone also occurs colorless as well as orange-yellow, red, sherry-brown, light green, blue and pink.

The name topaz is derived from the Greek word meaning "to shine," although many believe the name derives from the Sanskrit word “tapas” meaning "fire". It is most likely the stone derived its name from the island of Topazos in the Red Sea.

The lore and magic surrounding the topaz goes back thousands of years. Many believe it the gemstone with the widest range of curative powers. The Greeks felt it gave them strength, relieved ailments and could even prevent death. It was believed to be effective at cooling flared tempers, restoring sanity, curing asthma and relieving insomnia. The topaz is another stone which was believed to make its wearer invisible in time of need. Many believed the topaz could prove the loyalty of friends and associates by changing color to alert its wearer to the presence of poison.

Topaz is not readily available and can be quite costly for a small stone. The health benefits the topaz could offer those born in November may be well worth the cost.