DESCRIPTION: This remarkable Golden Imperial Topaz from Ouro Preto, Brazil stands out through its luminous golden yellow colour, exceptional transparency and striking visual clarity. Its appeal lies in the combination of warm, clearly expressed colour and an unusually clean appearance across much of the crystal’s interior. Light passes through the broad transparent faces with remarkable ease, revealing crystalline depth while bringing the golden tones vividly to life. The colour is distinctly golden rather than merely a delicate Champagne tint. Depending on orientation and illumination, the crystal displays shades ranging from bright golden yellow to warmer honey gold, with stronger colour apparent along the edges and through thicker sections. These variations give the specimen a rich visual character without obscuring its exceptionally transparent body. Internal clarity is one of the specimen’s strongest qualities. The principal viewing areas appear almost free of visible inclusions, allowing an unusually unobstructed view through the crystal. This description refers to its visual appearance rather than a laboratory clarity grade or a guarantee of complete freedom from microscopic inclusions. A few localised surface fissures are present and should be distinguished from the otherwise remarkably clean appearance of the central body. The specimen retains a compact natural prismatic form, with broad lustrous faces and fine longitudinal growth striations. Its irregular upper contour and textured surface areas contrast with the clearer prism faces, preserving the character of a natural crystal. Bright vitreous reflections emphasise the edges and surface relief, while the transparent interior provides depth and luminosity. From Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil, this specimen offers a particularly appealing combination of golden colour, exceptional visual transparency and preserved natural crystal character. It is an attractive miniature for collectors who appreciate clarity and colour, while also presenting promising material for professional lapidary assessment. SPECIFICATIONS: • Weight: 0.25 g • Weight in carats: 1.25 ct • Dimensions: 6 × 6 × 4 mm • Origin: Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil • Mineral species: Topaz • Variety: Imperial Topaz • Crystal system: Orthorhombic • Crystal habit: Compact natural prismatic crystal • Upper contour: Irregular, with visible surface textures • Colour: Golden Yellow • Colour distribution: Luminous golden body with warmer tones apparent along selected edges and thicker sections • Transparency: Exceptionally transparent • Clarity: Near inclusion free visual appearance across the principal viewing areas; not laboratory graded • Lustre: Strong vitreous lustre • Surface features: Natural prism faces with fine longitudinal growth striations and a few localised surface fissures • Internal features: Very few inclusions apparent in the available views; microscopic inclusions cannot be excluded • Condition: Natural crystal with localised surface fissures and irregularities NOTABLE POINTS: • Luminous Golden Yellow Colour A clearly expressed golden body colour gives the specimen warmth and visual intensity, with brighter yellow and deeper honey gold tones appearing as the viewing angle changes. • Exceptional Transparency Broad transparent areas allow light to pass through the crystal with remarkably little visible interruption, revealing its depth and internal clarity. • Near Inclusion Free Visual Appearance The principal viewing areas appear exceptionally clean, with very few visible inclusions competing with the crystal’s colour and luminosity. • Colour and Clarity in Balance The golden tone remains clearly appreciable without concealing the interior, creating an attractive balance between colour presence and transparency. • Promising Lapidary Potential The combination of golden colour and apparently clean material provides a promising basis for professional assessment for faceting. • Clearly Disclosed Surface Fissures A few localised fissures are present at the exterior. Their depth and influence on cutting must be assessed separately from the crystal’s overall visual clarity. • Natural Prismatic Character Broad faces, defined edges and longitudinal growth striations retain the specimen’s recognisable natural crystal form. • Bright Vitreous Lustre Clean surface reflections accentuate the prism faces and reinforce the luminous appearance of the transparent golden body. • Ouro Preto Provenance The stated Brazilian locality adds geographical context to a specimen distinguished primarily by its golden colour and exceptional visual clarity. COLLECTOR’S INTEREST: This Golden Imperial Topaz is particularly appealing for the way its warm colour and exceptional transparency complement one another. Rather than relying on an unusual optical effect, its character comes from the luminous golden body, the remarkably clean appearance of its principal viewing areas and the contrast between transparent faces and natural surface textures. Its compact prismatic form makes it an attractive miniature specimen, offering considerable visual detail under close observation. The disclosed surface fissures remain part of its condition, while the apparent internal clarity provides its strongest point of distinction. LAPIDARY POTENTIAL: The luminous golden colour, exceptional transparency and apparently clean central areas suggest promising potential for faceting a small gemstone. The material offers an attractive starting point for a lapidary seeking a balance of warm colour and visual clarity. However, the surface fissures must be examined to establish their depth and whether they extend into the proposed cutting area. A professional assessment is necessary to determine a suitable orientation, achievable yield and the influence of cleavage and any inclusions not visible in the photographs. Neither the final weight nor the clarity or colour of a finished gemstone can be guaranteed from the rough crystal’s appearance alone. Preserving the specimen would retain its natural faces and growth textures; cutting would instead seek to express its golden colour and transparency through a carefully planned faceted design. _____________ Shipping and Handling: All orders are shipped by Portuguese National Post and UPS. • Dispatch time: within 1 to 3 business days after payment confirmation to Catawiki • Transit time service: between 2 to 5 business days within europe and worldwide, depending on destination national post. • A tracking number is always provided Photography and transparency: All photographs are taken under controlled lighting conditions using a macro lens, carefully selected to present each specimen as accurately as possible. No filters, colour enhancement, or artificial saturation are applied. The lighting setup uses a calibrated 5500K light source, replicating neutral daylight to reveal natural tones, surface features, and internal characteristics. Under warmer or weaker indoor lighting, colours may appear slightly different, which is normal. The purpose of this photographic process is documentation and representation, not visual enhancement. Images are intended to reflect the specimen faithfully as it appears under balanced natural light conditions. Identification and ethics: All specimens offered are natural and described to the best of our knowledge, based on direct sourcing, professional experience, and information provided by trusted suppliers working at the origin. Every effort is made to ensure transparency and accuracy regarding identification, locality, and general characteristics, avoiding misleading statements about treatment, provenance, or nature. Customs and import taxes: Any customs duties, import fees, or local taxes applied by the destination country are entirely the responsibility of the winning bidder. These charges are not included in the auction price or shipping cost and are determined by the buyer’s local authorities. Guarantee and resolution: Customer satisfaction is important. In the unlikely event of an issue such as loss, damage, or discrepancy, please contact us promptly through Catawiki’s messaging system. Each case is handled individually and fairly, with appropriate solutions offered when justified. Appreciation and commitment: We sincerely thank you for your trust. Our work focuses on careful selection, accurate representation, and respectful presentation of mineral specimens with character and interest. Each piece is chosen for its individual qualities rather than speculative or financial considerations. We aim to provide a transparent, reliable, and consistent experience for collectors at all levels. With gratitude, GemPulse Minerals