Topaz

$16,000.00

$40.00 shipping
Seller offers an extended return window of up to 30 days
Ships from USA

128 sold last year · median $250.00 · last sale $65.00

Crystal ClassicsFeatured

Tucson, Arizona, USA

7,291 for sale·131 sold

Ghundao hill in Mardan District, Khyber, Pakistan is probably the most famous of all Topaz occurrences in Pakistan and Afghanistan on account of its magnificently coloured, gem-quality crystals. Sometimes called 'Imperial Topaz' after their similarity to the famous Brazilian and Russian crystals, the Ghundao hill crystals share a similar elongated prismatic form but with much more defined crystal faces and with a subtly different colour. Most matrix-hosted specimens have been repaired in some way, given the nature of how they were collected and their unpredictable matrix. This usually involved the Topaz crystal being reattached to where it came dislodged, and this is the case here. The Topaz crystal is itself perfection, of the highest imaginable quality for this famous locality, with crystal clear clarity, a sumptuous slightly pinkish sherry colour, and exceptional crystallography, with a flat pinacoid lower termination and a magnificent sloping upper termination with faces like a faceted gemstone. At 3 cm in length and 1.4 cm wide this is also a significant size for such a perfect crystal. First worked during the 1970s, the Topaz veins in the 'small mountain' (the literal translation of the locality name) produced the best specimens during the earliest years of the 2000s before becoming barren. Recent attempts to work the veins at a lower depth have so far failed to produce any notable crystals. Either way, the chances of replicating something remotely near to the world-class quality of this specimen are almost none existent. Ex Jesse Fisher and Joan Kureczka Collection. It comes with a custom-made acryllic Sunnywood display stand.