About Blue TopazStrength, protection, and captivating sparkle The ancient Greeks believed that topaz made its wearer strong. And many a legend says that topaz can protect against evil curses and poisons. Blue topaz is the birthstone for December. Color and pedigreeBlue topaz can range from pale blue to greenish blue to dark blue. Brazil is the top producer of topaz, followed by Madagascar, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Taking it homeBlue topaz rates an 8 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. It resists scratches well, but it can easily fracture with any significant impact. Clean blue topaz with liquid jewelry cleaner or mild soapy detergent and water. Never use ultrasonic cleaners. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on blue topaz. About GoldGold is more than just a pretty facePeople don’t just love gold because it sparkles; for centuries, it’s been cherished for being strong. Gold is also malleable enough to suit endless designs, so it’s an excellent foundation for all types of jewelry. And because it’s resistant to corrosion, tarnish and rust, your gold jewelry will look new for a long time. Gold is very malleable making it ideal for jewelry designs, but to give it the strength needed for it to withstand wear it must be alloyed with other metals such as copper, silver, zinc or nickel. The percentage of pure gold to alloys is expressed in karatage. 24k would represent pure gold. 14k represents 14 parts gold and 10 parts alloy. In the United States fine jewelry is generally created using 18k, 14k or 10k gold. Yellow GoldThe shade of yellow gold can vary based on the alloy. As the amount of gold increases, so does the brightness of the yellow color. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on yellow gold. White GoldWhen yellow gold is mixed with nickel and zinc, it becomes white gold, which looks similar to platinum. White gold is often finished by plating it with rhodium, which will give it an even whiter, more brilliant appearance. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on white gold. | 
