Treated Topaz: Bangkok

For some time there have been a significant increase in the volume of orange + reddish + pinkish brown topaz in the Bangkok market, and there are all sorts of rumors about its origin. Gem dealers have their own tales; some say they are Brazilian, while others claim they are African, Burmese and so on. The stones are not expensive so buyers from all corners of the world are buying them so that they can sell the stones on the internet, but many are not disclosing the color stability of the stones. And the fact of the matter is most specimens are unstable and upon exposure to direct sunlight for several hours, they fade to near colorless. Buyer beware!