Blue Topaz & Pearl Ring

Blue topaz doesn't occur this colour on its own — it earns it.

The pearl next to it never had to try.

What this ring is

This ring sets a 4x6mm blue topaz beside a 4mm freshwater cultured pearl on a slim band of 18ct gold-plated 925 sterling silver. House Of The 18th pairs the two deliberately: one stone that owes its colour to treatment, one that owes nothing to anyone.

What is blue topaz?

Topaz is an aluminium silicate mineral that forms colourless in its natural state. The blue seen here comes from irradiation followed by heat treatment, an industry-standard process used on virtually all blue topaz sold today. It rates 8 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it one of the more durable stones in the collection.

Is the pearl natural or cultured?

The pearl is freshwater cultured, formed inside a freshwater mussel around a tissue nucleus rather than occurring without human intervention. This is the standard, widely used method behind most pearls in fine jewellery today.

Why pair a treated stone with an untreated one?

Topaz needs treatment to reach this blue. A pearl needs nothing at all. House Of The 18th set them side by side rather than hide that difference, because a ring that pretends every stone in it is equally natural is a ring that's lying to you about one of them.

How to care for topaz and pearl

Topaz is hard enough for daily wear but should still come off before impact sports or heavy manual work. The pearl is far softer and should be protected from water, perfume, and lotion, and wiped clean after wearing. Store the ring flat rather than tossed into a jewellery box where the pearl could knock against harder pieces.

Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the topaz on this ring natural or treated? The topaz is irradiated and heat-treated to reach its blue colour, a standard treatment used across nearly all blue topaz on the market, and it is not the stone's naturally occurring colour.

What does 18ct gold-plated mean? 18ct gold-plated means a thin layer of 18-carat gold is applied over the 925 sterling silver base, and the "18ct" describes the gold's purity, not the plating's thickness or the ring's carat weight.

Is the pearl a natural pearl? The pearl is freshwater cultured, meaning it was grown inside a freshwater mussel around an inserted nucleus rather than formed entirely without human involvement.

How durable is this ring for daily wear? The topaz rates 8 on the Mohs scale and holds up well to daily wear, while the pearl rates only 2.5 to 4 and is the more fragile of the two stones, so the ring is best worn with some care around water and impact.

Can this ring be stacked with other rings? Yes, the slim band is designed to sit comfortably alongside other rings from the collection without crowding the finger.