Topaz is one of November's beautiful birthstones, and with such a wonderful range of colours available you are sure to find something to suit you!
Read on to find out more about why it has been prized throughout the centuries...
9. During the Middle Ages topaz was thought to heal both physical and mental disorders and prevent death. The Greeks believed it had power to increase strength and to make its wearer invisible while the Romans believed it had power to improve eyesight. The Egyptians wore it as an amulet to protect them from injury.
10. One possible origin for the name topaz comes from the ancient Indian language, Sanskrit. The Sanskrit word topas or tapaz translates to "fire." Another theory is that the name comes from the island of Topazos in the Red Sea. When peridot was found there it was first thought to be topaz.
11. And a bonus fact for you... Mystic topaz is one variety of the gemstone that is not found in nature, although it is becoming more popular with jewellers. It is a colourless topaz that has been coated with a thin metallic layer to produce extreme iridescence. The lovely delicate pink stone at the front of the photo to the right is one example, and with a treatment that mimics the colour of morganite gems.
You've cut your bezel strip to size, filed the ends, soldered and carefully neatened up the solder join - only to find that the bezel is now too small for your stone! Don't worry, we've all done it.... and I'm going to show you an easy way to put it right.
Start with simple hammered rings and then learn how to adorn them with small cabochons!
A burnisher is a must-have for stone setting - and for many other jobs too! However, burnishers must be looked after carefully if they are going to give you the best results. To find out why and how to look after them read on!
Learn how to turn a nail into a great stone setting tool - with stone setting tips too!
And for weekly jewellery making tips and a place to share your work and ask for advice join The Jeweller's Bench Café facebook group! Just click on the photo...
The Jeweller's Bench is run by Joanne Tinley. She has been making her own jewellery for as long as she can remember and left her first career as a school teacher to set up business as a jewellery designer and tutor nearly 15 years ago. She is self-taught and like many people started with wire and beads. Learning how to solder, however, opened up a whole new world of jewellery making, one that she is keen to share! There is something so magical about watching solder flow through a seam, joining two pieces of metal together smoothly.