Some believe that the term topaz traces back to a small island in the red sea called Topazos. The Romans would collect golden stones here that they then named Topazos. So is this where topaz was found? Not exactly. The gemstones that were collected from this island weren’t topaz, but rather modern-day peridot! Today, the island is called Zabargad instead which is Arabic for peridot. Another believed origin for the name topaz comes from the ancient Indian language, Sanskrit. The Sanskrit word topas or tapaz translates to “fire.” Science eventually helped differentiate topaz, but it seems the average jewelry consumer still lags behind, often confusing topaz with the more popular citrine. Despite this mix-up, topaz has become prized among jewelry aficionados for its unique beauty and variety of other colors it comes in.
