WHy Topaz

Tana's reasons to give Clancy the name Topaz

1. As a child I had imagined that one day I'd have a cat and that I'd name him/her Topaz.

2. Imperial Topaz (which is the name given to topaz which has this golden/bronze color) is a gem that I've always loved because of the wonderful color; it is incredibly beautiful; see some samples at this link http://www.mineralminers.com/html/topjlry.stm

3. Imperial Topaz is one of the birthstones for the month of November and we met this cat on Nov.2 and he moved in with us on Nov.10.
One of the interesting things about the different color varieties of Topaz that are also birthstones is that they seem to conform well with the month that they have been chosen for. Imperial Topaz, which tends to be a shade of yellow or orange with hints of brown, is one of the birthstones for the month of November. Since these are the main colors of autumn leaves, it makes a lot of sense why this would be the birthstone for November. Blue Topaz, which ranges from light to medium blue, is one of the birthstones for the month of December. It also makes sense why this variety of the gemstone would be selected as a birthstone for this month, since light blue is commonly associated with winter.

4. The Egyptians believed that Topaz got its color from the Sun God (see Color Topaz), who they called Ra. Due to this myth, the Topaz became an incredibly valuable gemstone in Egyptian, as it had been touched by one of their Gods. Interestingly enough, the Egyptians were not the only ones who felt that Topaz got its color from the sun. The Romans also felt the same way. They believed that there was some type of association between the color of this gemstone and the sun. The fact that Topaz is commonly found in shades of yellow and orange makes this myth seem quite understandable. It does almost appear as though the sun’s rays caused it to turn the color that it is.
Perhaps Topaz’s close association with the sun is the reason that its mystical properties were only believed to occur during certain times of the month. It was believed that the closer it was during the month to the full moon, the more powerful the mystical properties that Topaz had to offer would be. When the moon was not visible at all, it was believed that the mystical properties that Topaz has to offer would be incredibly weak. Topaz is the only gemstone which was believed to follow the moon’s pattern in terms of its mystical properties.

5. It is believed that the word Topaz was derived from the Sanskrit language and had a meaning of “fire.” A lot of people wonder if the reason that Topaz was given this name because it looks like fire, was given its color from this element, or if it was because the sun is often referred to as a ball of fire. In any case, Topaz has a meaning of fire!

6.Topaz is a gemstone that is mined in quite a few locations throughout the world. Brazil is the location where the largest amount of Topaz has been found to date. Russia and Pakistan are two of the other main locations where it is mined. Afghanistan, Germany, Japan, Sri Lanka, Italy, the United States, and Mexico are all other countries where Topaz is mined on a regular basis. Although it is most common for colorless and light brown varieties of the gemstone to be found in all of these locations, there are areas where it is not at all unusual for colored varieties of Topaz to be discovered.
Topaz can come in a number of different colors. This is one of the main reasons that the gemstone has gained so much appeal. It can be found in shades of yellow, orange, and light brown. Topaz can also be found in a variety of shades of blue, including Sky Blue, Swiss Blue, and London Blue. There are also a variety of shades of Green Topaz, including Apple Green, Teal/Aqua Green, and Emerald Green. Other colors include pink and red. Colorless Topaz is much more common to find in nature, however. Many of the other colors are created synthetically, by enhancing the appearance of colorless or light brown Topaz gemstones.
In 1740, the Braganza diamond was discovered in Brazil. It was 1,680 carats. Since it was believed to be the largest diamond that was ever found, the Braganza diamond was set in the Portuguese crown. It was later found that the Braganza was not a diamond, but was a colorless Topaz instead. The Portuguese Crown can currently be found in Dresden, Germany.
Keep in mind that the Braganza diamond is not the largest Topaz in the world, however. Although it is very large, there is still at least one that exceeds its size. At the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C., there is a yellow Topaz on display. Sized at 23,000 carats, it is the largest gemstone that has been found to date. There are other fairly large Topaz gemstones which are in existence. It is not at all uncommon for two hundred pound masses of the gemstone to be mined in Brazil, and several other locations where the greatest amounts of Topaz are found. (This cat is, of course, white in color so the eyes are like Imperial Topaz and the body color is like the clear variety).

7. There are a number of notable figures throughout history who owned Topaz gemstones. It was often gifted to those in high standing, which is mainly because Topaz was believed to provide the mind with wisdom and knowledge. There were many monarchs, kings, queens, and ambassadors who owned Topaz. The high priest Aaron also had Topaz set in his breastplate. (So, the name seems OK for a male cat).

8. One of the main reasons that Topaz has gained so much attention over the years is due to the mystical properties that it has to offer. The gemstone’s healing properties especially have gained it a lot of popularity. It is believed to ward off colds, enhance the breathing process, and help those with insomnia sleep better at night. The Bushmen of Africa, who are well recognized for their ability to heal, have been known to use Topaz.

There are many other mystical properties that Topaz is believed to offer aside from healing powers. It is also believed to get rid of mood swings, relax the mind, and help one think more realistically about things. As previously mentioned, Topaz is also believed to provide the mind with wisdom and knowledge. Since ancient times, the gemstone was also thought to work as a censor for poison. When it is near food or drink that has been poisoned, Topaz is known to change colors.

It is believed that the only people who can take advantage of the mystical properties that Topaz has to offer are those were born during the months that it is a birthstone for. People born during November can take advantage of the mystical properties offered by Imperial Topaz, while anyone born during December can take advantage of mystical properties offered by Blue Topaz.

As you can see, there are really some very interesting myths associated with the Topaz gemstone. Much like any of the other gemstones, it’s also important to keep in mind that there are a number of mystical powers that this one is believed to possess. A relaxed mind, creative energy, the ability to sleep better at night, and healing powers are just a few of the different mystical properties that people born during the month of November may be able to take advantage of when they make the decision to wear a Topaz gemstone!

OK - that about sums up my argument for giving Clancy the name Topaz.