Loose gemstones

Topazes

Topaz is the affordable large stone. At Mohs 8 it scratches harder than quartz and most of what a ring meets, and it grows in crystals big enough that size costs far less than it does in almost anything else. The catch is cleavage: topaz splits cleanly along one plane, so it takes a sharp knock badly however hard it is. Bezels and protected seats suit it.

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