Workable, durable blue gemstones that are suitable for use as jewels are rare and pricey. As long as gems have been prized, craftspeople have searched for ways to transform specimens of other colors into a blue as rich as sapphire. With the discovery that people could harness radiation, a new method for creating stones saturated in color was born.
Topaz lends itself particularly well to the process. Most colored stones get their hue from inclusions of trace elements. The crystal lattice structure that makes up topaz has a slight imperfection that changes the way it absorbs light. Abundantly available, colorless topaz is irradiated and sometimes heat treated to deliver a midnight blue stone that has been described as steely or inky.
Topaz has long been valued for its ability to attract wealth and improve sight, not only in a physical sense, but in a metaphysical way as well. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all used the stone, procuring it from as far away as Sri Lanka. Some African tribes used topaz as a communication channel to their ancestors and the spirit world. The Kalpavriksha tree of Hindu mythology contains a topaz as one of the sacred stones, and it is said to hone intelligence and prolong life. The deep color of London blue topaz enhances the natural ability of topaz to stimulate and recharge, especially the mind. These deep levels of concentration have been known to inspire writers and other artists. Place blue topaz in a quiet place to enhance creative process.