Blue Topaz Natural Chunk Sterling Silver Pendant

There are conversations we rehearse for weeks, words that sit behind the teeth and will not come out right, and blue topaz keeps company with that kind of waiting. Its colour runs from a pale, glassy sky to a deep, inky teal, cool and clear as water over white sand, and it is one of the hardest stones a jeweller sets. Its name may come from Topazios, the old Greek name for an island whose green gem was most likely peridot, or from a Sanskrit word for fire; the stone the ancient Egyptians called topaz was linked with Ra, the sun god, so there is an old warmth beneath all that cool blue.

Topaz is an ancient stone, but its place among the chakras is recent: blue topaz is linked to the Throat Chakra, the centre of clear and truthful speech in the Hindu and Vedic tradition, and to the Third Eye Chakra, the seat of insight.

Blue topaz is known as a stone of peace and articulate thought, calming our emotions so feelings can find their words. It is there for clear communication, for setting boundaries, and for meditation that settles a busy mind, and it has become a talisman for writers, musicians and artists, for anyone whose work is expression. It is associated with truth, spoken plainly and brought gently to light, and the tradition ties it to the throat and head, and to the eyes and ears that let us listen as well as speak.

Blue topaz has the coolest, cleanest blue we know, the colour of a rock pool in full sun, and a faceted stone throws that light back so brightly it stops people at the cabinet. It is hard and glassy, and it stays cool against the skin for longer than you expect. Every shade has its admirers, from the palest ice to a deep, smoky teal. An uncluttered stone, it looks as fresh with a T-shirt as with something dressed up.

Blue topaz tends to be worn close to the throat, as a pendant or a pair of earrings, by those of us who want our words to come out calm and clear. Many of us keep it on through a job interview, a presentation or a talk we have been putting off, and some wear it when they need to say no with grace. As an alternative December birthstone it makes a natural gift for a summer birthday here, and a thoughtful one for someone stepping into a role that will ask them to find their voice.

Blue topaz is very hard (Mohs 8) yet can split along one plane if struck, so spare it sharp knocks. Cleanse with running water, sound, moonlight, or smoke, and keep it away from high heat and sudden changes of temperature.