A natural white topaz of 5.30 carats, about 5.82 ratti, at Rs. 10,600 – Rs. 2,000 per carat. It is the smallest and the least expensive stone in this category.

A real emerald cut, measured

"Emerald cut" is claimed loosely, so here is the test. Comparing this stone's width at every row against a true rectangle and against a true ellipse, it fits the rectangle far better – and of the three step-cut stones in this category it is the closest to a true rectangle. Its outline fills about 91% of its bounding box, where an oval of the same size would fill only 78.5%, and its bounding-box corners are genuinely occupied rather than cut away to nothing.

That is what an emerald cut is: a rectangular step cut with the corners trimmed, long flat facets running parallel to the edges instead of the small triangular facets of a brilliant. On a clear stone it gives long quiet flashes rather than glitter, and it shows the inside of the stone honestly, which is why it is the cut that flatters a clean stone and exposes a cloudy one.

Colour, stated plainly

White topaz is the trade name for colourless topaz, but these are natural stones and few of them are water-clear. Measured across the photograph, about 18% of this stone's face carries a faint yellow-green cast – middling for this parcel, where the cleanest reads under 9% and the most tinted nearly 39%. In the hand it reads as a bright near-colourless stone with a touch of warmth, not as glass.

Hardness is not toughness – the one thing to know about topaz

Topaz sits at 8 on the Mohs scale, harder than quartz and well able to resist the scratching that dulls softer stones. But topaz also has perfect basal cleavage: one plane along which it will split cleanly if it takes a sharp knock in the wrong direction. Hardness resists scratches; cleavage is about breaking, and they are not the same thing.

In practice: this is a fine stone for a ring, a pendant or earrings, but set it with a bezel or protected claws rather than leaving a corner exposed, take it off for heavy work, and never put it in an ultrasonic cleaner or under sudden heat. Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush.

Treatment

Colourless topaz is usually untreated – unlike blue topaz, which gets its colour from irradiation and heating as a matter of course. That is a statement about the material rather than a finding about this piece: the treatment of this stone has not been tested and there is no laboratory report. Ask us and we will arrange independent testing.

Ordering

One stone, sold once. Quote GS-WT-0001 when you message us so we pull up this exact stone. Message us on WhatsApp for more photographs or a video, and we deliver across Pakistan.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural white topaz with a weight of 5.3 Carat. Its price is Rs. 10,600 — roughly Rs. 2,000 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-WT-0001 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.

Between two and six carats is the range most people choose for a gents' ring or a noticeable pendant. Here colour drives the price more than size does, which is why two stones of near-identical weight can be priced very differently.

On the Mohs scale white 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 white 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 white 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: Treatment not tested. Certificate available on request. As general background (not a statement about this stone): Colourless (white) topaz is normally untreated. 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.