About
Topaz is a precious gem stone that is found in a variety of colors ranging from clear (called silver or white topaz) to a golden yellow, pink, and blue. The word ‘topaz’ is thought to have a few different origins: ‘Topazios,’ the ancient name of St. John’s Island in the Red Sea which was known for the yellow gems mined there; an Arabic word meaning ‘subject of the search;’ or the Sanskrit word tapas meaning ‘heat’ or ‘fire.’
The poet Pablo Neruda wrote an ode to the beauty of topaz in his poem ‘El Topacio’: it begins, "Whenever you touch topaz, it touches you: it awakes / a gentle fire, like wine awakes in grapes."� The topaz is a particularly captivating stone, having high qualities of color, clarity, and hardness. White topaz is one of April’s birthstones, and can be given in celebration of 4th and 19th anniversaries.
In many cultures throughout history, the topaz has held a sacred significance. It is referenced in the Bible, as one of the stones adorning Aaron’s bejeweled breastplate; it is believed by the Hindus to sharpen intelligence and lengthen the wearer’s life; and in some shamanic cultures in Africa, topaz is believed to facilitate a connection with the spirit realm.
Whatever the mystical properties topaz may have, it is sure to shine with its interior flame for generations.
Artist
Cathy Heinz can’t remember a time when she wasn’t creating jewelry and has been selling her creations professionally for the past 11 years. She describes her style as refined, modern, simple, and feminine but not cutesy and says that her favorite part of being a jeweler is having the ability to create any design she can imagine and making pieces that strike an emotional chord with people because "being able to participate in [people’s] lives that way is something special."�
The design Ms. Heinz submitted to the contest, featuring a stone rising out of a round lake of silver, was inspired both by the legend of the Lady of the Lake and by her customers. "I’ve done quite a few engagement ring makeovers,"� she says, "I wanted to make something timeless that would look just as good on the 25th anniversary as it did at the wedding."�
Artisan Jewelry
Engagement
