Mystic Topaz: Understanding the Stunning Color Variations of This Gemstone

Question
While on a cruise to Alaska the jewelry store on the ship had some beautiful topaz stones, one of which I was really interested in, but I guess not enough to remember the name of the topaz. It was clear with hints of pink, blue, yellow and many more colors. It was something like Arctic ice or something like that. I would love to know more about different topazes since that is my birthstone.

Answer
HI TERN,

THE TOPAZ YOU SAW WAS SOMETHING CALLED "MYSTIC TOPAZ" WHICH IS A COATED STONE. MOST OF THE TOPAZ ON THE MARKET WAS ORIGINALLY C;EAR WHITE TOPAZ. IT GETS TREETED IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND PRODUCES DIFFERENT COLORS. ALMOST  100% OF ALL BLUE TOPAZ BEGINS AS WHITE TOPAZ. THEY SOMETIMES HAVE A TRADE NAME FOR BLUE TOPAZ LIKE "GLACIER ICE" JUST FOR STONES SOLD ON THE CRUISE SHIPS GOING TO ALASKA. THE ORIGINAL TOPAZ USED AS A BIRTH STONE IS YELLOW OR GOLDEN COLOR THAT OCCURS NATURALLY AND BEFORE BLUE TOPAZ WAS MANUFACTURED BACK IN THE 70'S. THERE IS EVEN A RED TOPAZ OUT THERE AND SOME COME AS VERY EXPENSIVE PIECES. SO THERE ARE MANY VARIETIES OF TOPAZ AND ALL ARE FUN TO IDENTIFY AND COLLECT.

THANKS

PETER