Top of the range Topaz possesses a ‘Vitreous’ (glassy) luster, is eye-clean and transparent, slightly lower qualities have the same luster but are translucent. Anything below this standard should be rejected. The exception to the Topaz clarity rule is with the red and pink variety, normally only available in smaller sizes and very rare. The slightly elevated amounts of inclusions are accepted because these gems, like rubies, get their coloration from chromium, which during the crystals formation cause tiny irregularities within the mineral structure.

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