Aquamarine Gemstone Information

Introduction

Aquamarines are surely one of nature's wonders. Stare into one of these beautifully cut, clear gemstones and you are instantly transported to the shores of an idyllic island. Instead of a crystal, you are looking into the transparent waters of the ocean of your dreams.

The word aquamarine comes from the Latin, aqua, meaning water and marina, which means 'from the sea' and when you look at of these beautiful gemstones you will understand why.

When one imagines the calm seas waters, lapping the white sandy shores of Mediterranean, Caribbean, or South Pacific islands the color in our minds is usually aquamarine and this is the color of the finest aquamarine gemstones too. From pale and light blues through to deep dark blues and some greenish blues as well it is easy to figure out how both the color and the gemstone got their names.

Beryl is a mineral made up of beryllium aluminum cyclosilicate most commonly found as crystals formed within igneous rock. The different types of beryl are created by the presence of trace elements such as chromium, iron or manganese. Aquamarine is formed by minute quantities of iron being trapped within the beryl crystals as they grow.
See our article on beryl gemstones here

Emerald is the most well known of the beryl clan but aquamarine is a very much sought after semi precious gem which has been used in both jewelry and for spiritual treatments for centuries.

As the root of its name would suggest, the finest colors of aquamarine are remindful of the sea and the more like a perfect translucent blue lagoon the more attractive the stone is considered.

The intensity of the color is important with dark blues and greenish blues being most valued but admirers of aquamarine also appreciate the pale or pastel colors of a subtly tinted crystal-clear gemstone.

A very important part of the value of color in aquamarine, as it is with most gemstones, is the evenness of the color, a consistent color throughout the crystal with no visible color zoning.

The Santa Maria Aquamarine is a uniquely saturated blue gemstone originally mined in Santa Maria de Itabira in Brazil. They are the most valuable and sought after but unfortunately the original mine has been virtually exhausted. The term Santa Maria can now sometimes refer to an aquamarine crystal from anywhere but possessing this particular coloring, however more scrupulous gems dealers should identify the source. For example, some beautiful gemstones of a similar color and saturation from Mozambique and Zambia have been dubbed Santa Maria Afrique to distinguish them from the Brazilian mine.

Another vibrant blue aquamarine is the Double Blue recently discovered and mined in Madagascar.

The color of aquamarine gemstones can change dramatically when viewed from different angles, but this is only really apparent in deeply colored stones where the color change can be from strong blue to almost colorless. The technical term for this is pleochroism.

Aquamarine is part of the beryl family of gemstones and is similar in chemical make-up to other members, emerald, morganite, yellow beryl and so on, what really sets it apart as aquamarine is its light blue to dark blue colors with hints of green.

Aquamarine is a highly regarded semi-precious stone able to command some good prices so it is not surprising that some unscrupulous merchants have tried to take advantage of this good name. Brazilian Aquamarine may or may not come from Brazil and is often used as a false name for blue topaz, Siam Aquamarine is usually a blue zircon while Nerchinsk is also more likely to be topaz.

Part of the aquamarine charm and allure is its resemblance to cool blue seas so gemstones of high clarity are especially important in order to conjure up those images of white sands, colorful fish and spectacular coral visible clearly through shimmering blue water.

Nearly all aquamarines deemed good enough for the gems market are eye-clean, that is no blemishes or inclusions are visible to the naked eye.

This is especially important as aquamarine tends to be transparent and light in color.

Stones which do have eye-visible inclusion are often cut into cabochons or beads or sometimes fancy carvings.

As soon as you look upon a large aquamarine crystal a feeling of serenity and relaxation will envelope you, the cool blue color is so evocative of a calm and inviting tropical sea that you are tempted to dive in!

The water element is a large part of the crystal's legend. Sailors believed that aquamarine was a gift from mermaids and would wear it to protect them from drowning or simply prevent sea sickness. They would also decorate their vessels with gemstones to encourage calm seas and thus save them from sinking.

Aquamarine is connected to the moon and we all know the moon's influence over us and the seas. It is also the traditional Pisces gemstone so if Pisces is present in your astrological chart then you might want to bring one of these crystals into your life.

A stone for calming the sea waters was also seen as a perfect amulet for calming the storms in a marriage so a gift of an aquamarine from husband to wife smoothed the rough waters of the home, too.

Back in ancient Rome, lovers would exchange gifts of aquamarine to signify pure love rather than lust in their relationship. An aquamarine is an especially good idea for the 19th wedding anniversary, for which it is the official gemstone.

In keeping with the feeling of calm waters and clear blue skies, aquamarine can relieve the stresses of day to day life and helps you to relax. Aquamarine's bestowing of a feeling of serenity makes it a perfect crystal for meditation.

Finally the aquamarine gemstones we see and admire look so pure and clear that it is symbolic of their power to keep all impurities away in your life, so protective that evil cannot exist in its proximity.

The price of aquamarine is largely determined by its color. The most valuable color is dark blue or perhaps a slightly greenish blue, but the richer and darker the blue the better. A prime example of this deep saturated blue is the Santa Maria aquamarine. These were originally from Brazil but now similar colored stones are sourced in mines in Africa and Pakistan as the Brazilian mines were depleted. The Santa Maria aquamarines are the most highly sought and most expensive but should not be confused with less valuable Espirito Santo Aquamarine or Santa Maria Topaz.

Aquamarines are usually highly clear, transparent stones so avoid gems with a lot of inclusions, blemishes or cracks.

This high transparency influences the cut of aquamarine. It is a highly reflective gemstone and the cut should make the most of this asset. Emerald or step cuts are very popular and angles are best sharp and straight, enhancing the sparkle and keeping the light directed to the eye. A poorly cut crystal will lower the value.

Aquamarine can be found in fairly large sizes but it is color and clarity that make the price. Cutters will sacrifice the blemished or impure parts of the stone to create a smaller, strongly colored stone. A small transparent stone of saturated deep blue will be worth a stone twice its size if it is pale with inclusions.

Although Brazil was once the prime source of the valuable Santa Maria aquamarine those mines have been exhausted and now it is only color that really determines the value not where the gemstones come from. So long as they possess that strong blue color they can be mined in Madagascar, Burma or Colorado!

Original documented gems with good color from Siberia or Brazil are highly valued.

Aquamarine has been used as jewelry and as an amulet for at least 3000 years with references in Sumerian, Egyptian, Greek and Roman writings. Greeks called it the sailor's friend or the sailor's stone and famed Roman philosopher Pliny suggested

'the lovely aquamarine . . . . seems to have come from some mermaid's treasure house'.

In those days it was not called aquamarine but 'sea-green beryl' and in some ancient texts it was one of the seven sacred stones taken to sea to ensure a safe return.

The earliest known use of the term 'aquamarine' in connection with the gemstone was in 1609 when Anselmus de Boodt published his gemological work, Germmarum et Lapidum Historia. The word comes from the Latin aqua meaning water and marina meaning sea.

The first documented modern day discovery of Aquamarine took place in 1723 in the mountains of Siberia.

Deposits found at this site were plentiful and it soon became the world's principal mining site with more than seventy kilograms of high quality gemstones mined in 1796.

A few decades later, on the other side of the world in Brazil, amongst the gold, topaz, diamonds and emeralds, an enormous supply of aquamarine was discovered in the Marambaia Valley. This area has supplied the majority of the gemstones ever since, including some truly enormous specimens such as the 110 kilogram near perfect stone discovered in 1910. From this one gem cutters faceted 100,000 carats of high quality aquamarines. Those who saw the original whole crystal claimed it was so transparent that distant objects could be seen through its length!

The Aquamarine mines of Brazil have been going strong for nearly three centuries (in fact the 300 year anniversary of Minas-Gerais is celebrated this year 2019) and still produce the majority of gemstones to this day.

Beautiful, ''water clear'' stones are sourced high in the mountains of Pakistan in southern Asia. It supplies the world with some of the finest stones but miners have to ascend to 3000 or even 4000 meters to get them!

Other important sources of Aquamarine include Kenya, Zambia, Nigeria, Madagascar and Mozambique in Africa, China and Myanmar in Asia, Russia and Ukraine in Europe and Colorado in the US.

When molten lava or magma cools and solidifies it becomes igneous rock. Lava is on the surface of the earth and cools very quickly. Magma is underground and cools slowly. Crystals need a very long time to form and so they grow in the slow cooling magma rocks known as pegmatite. Pegmatite rock is filled with cracks and fissures. It is in these cracks that thermal activity forms crystals such as the beryl family. Beryl is an aluminum silicate mineral and, when mixed with finite amounts of other minerals, magic happens. Beryl crystals with a touch of chromium give us Emerald, some manganese and we get Morganite or add a little iron and you produce Aquamarine.

Pegmatites are found in mountain ranges on every continent and usually most abundant in rocks of great geological age. With all this material spread about the world you would think gemstones are easy to find but it is estimated that only 0.003% of all magma rocks contain beryl-rich pegmatites.

In a sense all gemstones are treated in one way or another, when rough rocks are mined from the earth they need to be cut and polished for their beauty to be appreciated. However there are further treatments which may or may not enhance their appearance such as bleaching, coating, dyeing, filling, irradiation and heating. Opinions may differ on the efficacy and ethics of such treatments but no doubt all information must be passed onto any potential buyers.

We at GemSelect have a wide range of mostly untreated stunning aquamarine gemstones and any treatments are fully disclosed.

The deep blue aquamarines are the most valued and heat treatment can be applied to enhance the color. Gentle heat is applied and it is permanent and widely accepted in the gemstone industry. Heat treated blue aquamarines are certainly attractive but they are not as valuable as naturally occurring untreated blue gemstones, make sure you are aware of any treatments your stone has had.

Aquamarine has a reading of 7.5 to 8 on the Moh's scale for gem quality stones, just below that of sapphires and rubies so is perfect for rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and pendants that can be worn every day. Aquamarine can be cut into any style, ovals, pears, rounds, and emerald cuts are particularly popular.

While aquamarine gemstones are strong enough to withstand the rigors of daily wear care should be taken to avoid any sharp blows and should be stored carefully to avoid contact with harder materials which could break, chip or scratch the gem. Being such a hard stone, aquamarine will not scratch easily but be aware it can scratch other gemstones so be careful when storing to keep your gemstones in separate containers.

These days people are looking for interesting alternatives to diamonds for engagement rings and the aquamarine is certainly durable and beautiful enough to be this most important token of love.

The cool blue colors are ideal for any eye color and will match most outfits too.

• Aquamarine is the birthstone for March

  Aquamarine makes a perfect gift for a loved one born in this month? It is also the gemstone to celebrate the 19th wedding anniversary and there really could not be a better token of love than this rare and beautiful crystal.

• The largest cut aquamarine is the Dom Pedro.

  Originally three feet long (nearly a meter) and weighing a hundred pounds (about 45 kilos) it was actually dropped by the prospectors, doh! Two broken pieces were sold off but the largest remaining piece was named Dom Pedro after Brazil's first emperor. The uncut Dom Pedro aquamarine crystal was put into the hands of master craftsman, Bernd Munsteiner. He worked on the gemstone for ten months turning it into the 10,000 carat work of art which now resides in the Smithsonian in Washington DC.

• The Romans believed a frog etched into a piece of aquamarine could bring peace to warring parties.
• For her coronation in 1953, Queen Elizabeth II received a gift from the president and people of Brazil

  It was made by Mappin and Webb and consisted of a necklace and matching earrings. The necklace contained nine large oblong aquamarine stones and the earrings had matching drop aquamarine pendants.

• Aquamarine's link with the world of sailors and the sea has continued to the modern world. The US navy created a coastal patrol yacht in the second world war and named it the USS Aquamarine.
• In the middle ages aquamarines were fashioned into spectacles to correct short sightedness. Even today the German word for eyeglasses is 'brille' which comes from the mineral beryl.
• The Brazilian government also sent a gift to the wife of US president Franklin D Roosevelt

  A step cut rectangular aquamarine was cut into a 1300 carat faceted stone and presented to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. It is now in the Presidential Library.

• Aquamarine is the official stone of the 38th state of America, Colorado. Some fine quality aquamarine gemstones have been found in Mount Antero and White Mountain in this rugged state.
• Fashion tastes change over time.

  In Victorian times the most popular and expensive aquamarines had a green tinge and the bluer colors were seen as too garish! Nowadays the greener colors are far less desirable.

Aquamarine's hardness (7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale) makes it durable and means that it does not scratch easily. It is strong enough for nearly all types of jewelry. One thing to be especially careful with aquamarine is it sensitivity to chemicals such as ammonia, alcohol and many acids.

Keep aquamarine away from any source of strong or high heat as this can be very detrimental to coloring. Also try not to keep your aquamarine in direct sunlight as some stones can fade if exposed for too long.

To clean your aquamarine, simply use soapy water and a soft cloth. Be sure to rinse well to remove soapy residue. As with most gemstones, ultrasonic cleaners and steamers are not recommended.

Always remove any jewelry or gemstones before exercising, cleaning or engaging in harsh physical activities such as sports.

Store aquamarine away from other gemstones to avoid scratches. It is best to wrap gemstones in soft cloth or place them inside a fabric-lined jewelry box.

Obviously a certified gemstone from a reputable dealer is the best approach but this is not always possible when you are out searching for a great gemstone or a bargain!

First check the color, aquamarine range from light sky blue to deep ocean blue, any other color should be taken as a warning that things are not right. However there are other well known blue stones out there that are not aquamarines.

Aquamarine is a very hard stone, surface scratches could mean the gemstone is made of glass or a lesser quality stone. At nearly 8 on the hardness scale aquamarine will not be able to be scratched by your fingernail or even a penknife.

Aquamarine gemstones are usually eye-clean, there should not be any visible blemishes, bubbles or material within the stone.

Coolness test. Touch the gemstone to your forehead, if it feels room temperature it is likely to be glass, aquamarine will feel pleasantly cool.

Price as a guide. Aquamarine is a rare semi-precious gemstone so the price should reflect this. If you see a prime example at a price too good to be true, it probably isn't true, so avoid buying such 'bargains'.

Look at the gem from different angles, it should change color from blue to near colorless due to the pleochroic nature of the gemstone. If it does not change color, be wary.

This is not a complete guide on how to spot a fake aquamarine gemstone but I hope it helps.

At GemSelect, we currently offer brief identification reports from your choice of two well-respected independent gemological laboratories, The Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences (AIGS) and Burapha Gemological Laboratory (BGL Lab).

Aquamarines have a special blue color that is so like the ocean you are tempted to dive in! Their clarity and transparency is almost unsurpassed especially in the bigger sizes that are available in this unique gemstone.

They are a cutter's dream gemstone, carving cleanly with little or no risk of cleaving or breaking. Any shape is possible and with such lovely clear large sizes available, aquamarine is often used by cutters to experiment with new contours and designs.

The subtle cool blue color suggests class and sophistication, a gorgeous alternative to some of the more flashy gemstones out there.

Some gemstones show a distinct or dramatic change in color under different light sources. Look at a color-change garnet under electric or artificial light and it could look red, take it outside into the sunlight and all of a sudden it is green! This remarkable effect only occurs in a few gemstones, Alexandrite, color-change Garnet, color-change Sapphires being the most well known.

Aquamarine does not really change color under different light although some examples do seem to become slightly brighter under artificial light.

Because of aquamarine's crystal structure it can appear to change color when viewed from different angles, in this case from blue to near colorless, a phenomenon called pleochroism.

As with all colored gemstones, the quality of an aquamarine comes down to the 4 Cs, color, clarity, cut and carat. With aquamarine the color is vital. Personal preference takes precedence of course but it is the deep saturated blues that command the highest prices.

The light and subtle hues that aquamarines are famous for means that clarity is paramount when judging an aquamarine gemstone, there must be no visible blemishes.

A beautifully colored, crystal clear gemstone can be ruined by a less than perfect cut so take care in selecting a well faceted aquamarine that shows off its brilliance, transparency and color change capabilities. A rectangular or square emerald cut is very popular with aquamarine gemstones but any shape is possible with this durable gem and some fancy faceting is possible especially with the large sizes available.

Carat is the final consideration and is probably the least important with aquamarine. They are reasonably common in large sizes so do not compromise color, clarity and cut for the sake of a large stone.