Blue topaz makes a good ring stone and an easy one to get wrong. At 8 on the Mohs scale it is harder than quartz, agate, opal or aquamarine, so scratching is rarely the problem. The problem is cleavage, and almost nobody mentions it at the counter.

The stone

10.60 carats, which is 11.65 ratti. Rs. 21,200, Rs. 2,000 per carat, reference GS-BT-0006.

Hardness is not toughness

Topaz has a perfect basal cleavage — a plane through the crystal along which it will split cleanly if struck the right way. A hard stone with cleavage behaves differently from a hard stone without one: it will shrug off a lifetime of dust and fabric, and then break from a single sharp knock on a door frame. Agate at 6.5 has no cleavage and survives what topaz will not.

Knowing this changes how you set it, and that is the whole of the advice below.

Setting a topaz ring properly

1. Never a tension or pressure setting. Directional force on a cleavage plane is the one thing you must avoid.
2. A protective bezel, or substantial claws. The girdle is the vulnerable edge. A full bezel is safest; if you prefer claws, they should be heavy and sit squarely over the girdle.
3. Keep the profile low. A stone that stands high catches on doorways and furniture, and every catch is a knock.
4. No heat near the mount once it is set. Tell the setter in advance — repairs later are where topaz usually dies.
5. A broad shank. 7 to 10 mm in 925 silver for a stone of this weight.
6. Open back. It is transparent; light from behind keeps the blue bright.

Wearing it

Take the ring off for gym work, gardening, driving long distances and anything involving a hammer. Clean it with warm soapy water and a soft brush. Never an ultrasonic or steam cleaner — vibration and thermal shock are exactly what cleavage does not forgive. Store it apart from harder stones. Full routine in our topaz care guide.

The colour

Blue topaz gets its colour from irradiation and heating, starting from colourless topaz. Standard for the stone, permanent, and stated on our specification sheet rather than hidden. It will not fade with wear or washing.

What the ring costs

Shape and measurements have not been recorded for this piece. Send your finger size on WhatsApp at +92 308 887 3888 and we will measure the stone and quote a mount separately from it, so both figures stay visible.

Ordering

One piece only. Flat Rs. 500 delivery anywhere in Pakistan, insured and tracked, dispatched in one to two working days. Cash on Delivery — open the parcel and look at the stone before you pay — and seven days to return it unused. More sizes in the blue topaz collection.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural blue topaz with a weight of 10.6 Carat. Its price is Rs. 21,200 — roughly Rs. 2,000 for each carat. Treatment: irradiated & heated. Quote reference GS-BT-0006 when you message us about it. The photographs show this exact stone, so what arrives at your door is the piece you chose on screen.

From six carats up a stone becomes the centre of attention. It wants a broader shank or a secure claw setting and suits an occasion ring, a signet or a centre pendant. Clean natural material of this size turns up far less often, and the per-carat rate reflects that.

On the Mohs scale blue topaz rates 8. Few materials will scratch it, so it copes well with everyday ring wear. A soak in warm water with a drop of mild soap and a soft brush keeps it bright; skip the ultrasonic cleaner if inclusions reach the surface.

Whoever you buy blue topaz from, make sure of three things: the stone is natural rather than lab-grown, glass or glass-filled; any treatment is stated in writing; and the weight quoted is the weight of the finished stone. We check every blue topaz for those three points before it is listed, a certificate is available on request, and because you pay on delivery you can look at the stone — or have it tested — before any money changes hands.

We sell natural stones only and inspect each one before it is listed. Treatment for this stone: Irradiated & heated. Certificate available on request. As general background (not a statement about this stone): Blue topaz gets its blue colour from irradiation and heating — this is standard for the stone and the colour is stable. Ask us on WhatsApp and we will tell you what we know about this exact stone; independent lab testing is available on request.

A certificate of authenticity is available on request for this stone, and independent laboratory testing can be arranged. Because you pay on delivery, you can also take the stone to a lab of your choice within the 7-day return window. Read more on our authenticity page.