Category Archives: Birthstones

topaz

Topaz: November’s Birthstone

The November birthstone is topaz, a lustrous gem that spans from fiery orange to icy blue, with many magnificent shades in between. It is a silicate mineral of aluminum and fluorine with the chemical formula Al2SiO4(F, OH)2. The name topaz comes from Topazios, the old name for an island in the Red Sea. However, no topaz was ever produced on Topazios!

Birthstones

Birthstones combine beauty with durability in spectacular – and often valuable – displays of color. They capture the imagination with their history and lore. Of the countless varieties of colored gemstones, the traditional birthstones below are most popular. Durability is measured on the “Mohs Hardness scale” – which refers to a stone’s resistance to scratching.