What is white topaz?

While pure topaz is clear, most of the mineral comes from the mine tinted in one of several colors and requires treating to create white topaz. White topaz is one of the most valuable of all colors of the stone. Most topaz comes from Brazil.

Topaz, or the chemical Al2SiO4(F,OH)2, is a mineral of aluminum. Jewelers sometimes substitute white topaz for diamond to reduce the cost of the jewelry. It has a similar appearance but is not as hard as diamond. On the Mohs scale of hardness, diamond is rated at a 10 while topaz rates at an 8. The softness of topaz means the corners of the stone wear down and it is easily to scratch.