SOLD 80.90 ct. Green Imperial Topaz, Rarest Topaz, Sherlovaya Gora, Zabaykalye, Siberia, Russia

Topaz, 80.90 ct. Russian Imperial Green, the Flawless. Certified, Untreated!  Sherlovaya Gora, Zabaykalye, Siberia, Russia.

While the name,”Imperial Topaz,” once limited to the topaz from Russia only it now includes nearly any golden-pink topaz and was copyrighted for a pinkish-gold topaz. Most of the brand names gems are heated, and this gem from the Tsar’s Royal mines is not. It is not coated, heated, diffused, irradiated (like “London Blue,” and “Swiss Blue,”  which are Bright blue brought on by radiation (in nuclear reactors they turn them that color,) this is the real deal. Bright ice-mint green to golden green.

The cut it absolutely brilliant and was faceted in 2016 by a master European gem-cutter from rough which had been exported from Russia in the 1990’s. It produced one 80-carat, certified, flawless gem. 

This is not green quartz nor “prasiolite which along with that weird colored, coated, green crap which is 90% of what you will find online.

A once in a lifetime gem.

Prive is negotiable and pronenance (history) of gem and certification. It has a reliable, adventurous, intriguing history that starts at King Leopold’s mines in Siberia, now sealed.

Color shift is shown in photos of gem, ice-mint green evening/indoors and golden-green, (the color of natural green diamonds), in daylight/sun.

This exquisite, breathtaking gem was master, precision, hand-faceted in the Czech. Republic. It comes with a United States Private Lab Certification and provenance. GIA will be happily added to the list of certifications, but they do very little work with gems like untreated green topaz since they are almost never on the market and a top private investment lab has certified this gem using state of the art technology. We will happily have GIA certify the gem is untreated natural, earth mined green topaz.

No coupons or discounts, other than a current published sale price may be utilized on this gem. Buyer is responsible for shipping insurance which must be calculated and paid for after the sale price. No sales or coupons apply except the published price reduction if any and we have the right to pull the gem for any reason at any time until a sale is negotiated and completed. CERTIFICATION will arrive with the gem and may be viewed by serious buyers prior to sale. We will happily have additional certifications added at buyers expense prior to sale. Also included are letters outlining its exciting history, and other documentation from the original owner including it’s transport out of Russia via train in the 1990’s as rough by one of the most respected names in our industry. These “royal Mines,” are now sealed and in one of the harshest environments on earth. 

Color - This gem changes from golden-green in full sunlight (The color of a green diamond,) to a glowing, ice-mint green indoors; depending on the light source. Both colors are gorgeous. Appears indoors, and outdoors without full sun as a glowing, Ice Mint Green. This gem takes full advantage of even the most minimal light and seems to glow even in darker shaded conditions. 

Clarity - Gem is certified as Flawless and the cut is one of the finest I have ever seen with absolutely no windowing, or inferior facets. Perfect girdle for high end mounting. Cut by the finest gem cutter in the Czech Republic. Topaz are very hard to cut since a gem-cutter not familiar with the unique skills and knowledge to cut Topaz can shatter a very valuable gem in the process. They are however very hard gems at an 8 on the MOHS scale though they are only risk during cutting and splitting of the gem.

Getting gems out of Russia has been challenging throughout history especially from the old Royal Mines owned by the Czars and other the Government. Green Topaz were among the Russian Royal Gem Collection which were confiscated after the massacre of the Royal Family during the revolution. Also, Russian Imperial Topaz in Pink/Red, Blue And Golden Peach tones were the original, "Imperial Topaz," colors along with the extremely rare green. This gem is legal and was exported over a decade ago as rough. 

Read about history of this gem under, HISTORY below)

Enquiries Accepted,  Important Russian Imperial Green Topaz, Dichroic (Changes color in different light from mint green to golden green). One of the rarest gems on earth and the finest example of Imperial Green Topaz known to exist inside or outside the Russian Royal Jewels. This is believed to be the largest and finest green specimen currently known to exist. 

NOTES FROM PREVIOUS OWNER (Mine Owner, Laboratory Owner -

"Seller had only 3 pieces of this super rare gem ever. First time about 15 years ago, the largest of the two gems was approx. 25 carat and both sold to the, Japanese Royal Jewelers group (these people supply gems and jewelry to the emperor of Japan and his family). This piece is over 3x larger and the clarity is unreal, and the color far superior to the other two gems and any other green topaz we have seen.Absolutely untreated, guaranteed 100%."  

Color - Rare Imperial Green favored by the Czars of Russia and held within the royal gem collection prior to its dismantlement in early 1900's, some museum pieces from the collection in this color exist. Dichroic, changes from vivid ice mint green to golden-green which is known as, "Russian Imperial Green." There was also a "Russian Imperial Pink." This was long before Brazil started using the name "Imperial to describe golden, pinkish red topaz (often heated) as a brand name for their material. The Russian Czars and Czarinas favored these colored topaz hence the name, "Imperial." When pinkish material was discovered in Brazil the name was integrated as a trade name for pinkish topaz but the green topaz (the rarest color of untreated topaz) is true, Imperial Topaz, as per its original usage of the name.

Treatment - None. No heat, No radiation, No filling, No coating, No dyes. 100% natural earth mined in the Royal Mines of Russia, Ural Mountains, Siberia . 

Cut - Perfect, Modified Octagon, master hand-cut in Czech. Republic by an award-winning cutter who is among the best I have ever seen for large, rare gems that require special cutting skills like topaz. Luster, cut, size, clarity, rarity and cut are off the chart. Few humans could have even cut this gem into such elaborate and precision faceting. 

Clarity - Flawless

Size - 80.90 carats

History of the, "Ekaterina," Green Topaz - “This topaz was brought from Russia in 1992. Back then it was easy to take gems out of Russia, especially rough. I worked with two guys from the Czech Republic who lived in Russia and they specialized in gathering and basically smuggling gem rough (primarily demontoid garnet) out of Russia over to Ukraine, Slovakia into the Czech Republic and from there were sold to Germany, USA, etc...”

"NOTE by owner of Old Virginia Gem Co. - “This gem was purchased to fashion a pearl enhancer for the daughter of entertainer Jerry Lee Lewis but she chose a small gem." 

(Continued below by original owner and please note key below.) - 

****** = omitted for security and privacy issues.
*( TEXT )* = added to original letter. )

“This piece was actually in my stock and a decision was made to have it cut just last year *(2017)*. My cutter ****** did the cutting back in the ********** and then the gem was exported with other stones over to our stock in the USA. The stone was originally checked and approved by ******** ****** who worked as ********** gemologist for many years. He helped to certify most gems being smuggled (******** ** **** ******* ****** *********) out of Russia to rest of Europe.”

“We had only 2 pieces, a much smaller (but still very big) green Topaz was faceted about 12-15 years ago. The smaller gem was around 25ct if I remember correctly and it was purchased by the Japanese Royal Jewelers group. Those were about 5 guys and they told me they search the market for rare and unusual gems and they supply the Emperor of Japan, his family. They made jewelry out of most of these gems. Not sure what the Japanese Royal Jewelers did with their two lesser pieces but they were amazing gems and most likely used in royal gems.”

Note by Zeke Loftin - Getting gems out of Russia during this period was at great risk during the turbulent  political climate of Russia during this time and could result in imprisonment, or worse. There was, and has been, limited mining in Russia making the superior gems of the region continue to gain in desirability and value.

“I have issued certification including the name of the original mine region (Sherlovaya Gora, Zabaykalye, Siberia, Russia). Several more topazes were purchased at those times and smuggled with Demantoid and Chrome Diopside by the freight train between 1992 and 1995 there were several containers of gem rough taken from Russia over to the Czech Republic and from there further to Western Europe and the USA. Many metric tons of chrome diopside were transported and thousands of pieces of demantoid, topaz, aquamarine and other gems. One of those two guys died in Russia some 10 years ago.”

Mounting Notes - Full certs will be sent with the gem. and while we expect someone wanting this gem mounted in a Red Carpet quality necklace we have accumulated one of the rarest gems on earth to be considered as an accent gem with diamonds and South Sea or Tahitian pearls of the finest quality. We have one gorgeous green Russian topaz that is a close match for the color of the Ekaterina and could be cut into earrings for the buyer to match the Ekaterina as closely as possible. The Ekaterina may never have perfectly matched accent pieces the quality is at the pinnacle, but we have one large gem which is visually close enough for a large ring, or to be cut into earrings that will look exquisite with the Ekaterina.

This is a priceless gem and any pricing we add is just a random amount because these gems have only made it into the auction/market during the Tiffany's sale in the early 1900's and have never been seen, or photographed, since.

Mounting this gem should only be done by a top master jeweler familiar with working with very rare gems and topaz. It is a very hard gem but improper use of heat, oils or lacking the special knowledge required to work with topaz of this size and value could be tragic. We will provide all scientific information we have on the gem to the jeweler of your choice. 
****** = omitted for security and privacy issues.
*( TEXT )* = added to original letter.