Topaz
Topaz is renowned for its color, clarity, hardness and capacity to form large gem quality crystals. In the first century Pliny the Elder, a Roman scholar remarked, "Topazos of all precious stones is the largest." In color it is golden yello, blue, pink, red or colorless. Pure topaz is colorless. Colored varieties include the classic spectrum from yellow through sherry orange as well as blue, pale green, pink and red, but some of these colors are unstable and can fade. Yellow topaz is often referred to as true or precious topaz.