Aquamarine, with its charming shades of blue reminiscent of crystal-clear waters, has been captivating hearts for centuries. Its beauty and association with tranquility, peace, and happiness make it a treasured gemstone. Whether seeking the perfect birthstone for March or a breathtaking addition to your collection, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to choose the ideal aquamarine.
Hi everyone,
I’m Sasha Kareva and on this channel I talk about GEMSTONES. Welcome!
For centuries, aquamarine has held a special place in hearts and jewelry boxes. Its name, derived from Latin, translates to "sea water," perfectly capturing its essence.
Aquamarine is a member of the beryl family of minerals, which also includes emerald, morganite, and heliodor. It is known for its beautiful blue-green color, which is caused by trace amounts of iron in the beryl crystal. Aquamarine can range in color from very light blue or blue - green to a deep, rich blue or blue-green. The most valuable aquamarines are those with a medium-dark color and a moderate to strong saturation.
There are a few factors that can affect the color of aquamarine, including:
- Iron content: The amount of iron in the beryl crystal will determine the intensity of the blue-green color. More iron will result in a deeper, richer color.
- Trace elements: Other trace elements, such as titanium and vanadium, can also affect the color of aquamarine. For example, titanium can give aquamarine a slightly greenish tint, while vanadium can give it a slightly purplish tint.
Heat treatment: Aquamarine is often heat treated to remove any yellow or brown hues and enhance its blue-green color.
When you come across aquamarine, you can meet trade names, which mostly describe the color, than the origin.
Brazilian aquamarine, usually describe blueish green color,
Madagascar aquamarine forfine, medium blue.
Maxixe beryl: treated beryl with excellent aquamarine blue, known for fading with a time. Also called halbanite. It was very popular before, but quite hard to meet in the market now
And the most famous Santa Maria color -medium-dark tone and highly saturated blue color. . "Santa Maria" aquamarines are named after the Santa Maria mine where they were first discovered, but stones with similar colors have also been found in other locations. Don't assume also aquamarines billed as "Brazilian" or "Madagascar" actually come from these sources. These terms may only refer to the color, so ask to see documentation to certify a gem's origin. You might encounter gemstones sold as "white aquamarines." Be aware that such stones are most likely colorless beryls, also known as goshenites.
The clarity of an aquamarine can have a significant impact on its price. A flawless aquamarine can be worth up to 10 times more than a heavily included aquamarine.
According my opininion, flawless aquamarines are too boring. Inclusions are interesting features of this gemstone. Beryl, and aquamarine in particular, are known for having long, hollow tubes. This distinctive feature can help identify a gem as a member of the beryl family.
Aquamarines may have transparent and metallic inclusions, such as biotite, hematite, ilmenite, phlogopite, pyrite, and rutile in skeletal crystals. They may also contain crystals of apatite, garnet, muscovite; quartz, and rare tourmaline. These inclusions in aquamarine are quite rare and these gems usually come direct to collectors. Aquamarines with hollow tubes can be find more easier, these inclusions looks amazing. that’s what I choose also for myself.
Aquamarine is typically cut into step cuts, which are a type of facet cut that has a series of parallel steps or planes on the crown and pavilion. This type of cut is well-suited to aquamarine because it maximizes its brilliance and fire, which are the gemstone's ability to reflect and refract light.
There are several different types of step cuts that are commonly used for aquamarine, including:
Emerald cut: This is the most popular cut for aquamarine. It has a rectangular shape with eight sides, and it is known for its classic and elegant appearance.
Asscher cut: This cut is similar to the emerald cut, but it has a square or slightly elongated shape. It is a good choice for stones that have a good clarity and a light to medium color saturation.
- Octagonal cut: This cut has eight sides, but it is cut with a higher crown angle than the emerald cut. This gives it a more brilliant appearance.
- Portugese cut: This cut has 12 sides, and it is known for its sparkle and fire. It is a good choice for stones that have a good clarity and a medium to dark color saturation
Other Cuts
In addition to step cuts, aquamarine can also be cut into other shapes, such as oval, marquise, heart cut.
The carat weight determines the stone's size. While larger aquamarines are rarer and more valuable, smaller stones offer affordability and beauty.
You'll find aquamarines available in a remarkable range of sizes, and lapidaries have cut gems that weigh several hundred carats, much too large to be worn.
The most famous Martha Rocha aquamarine, found in Brazil, weighed 134 pounds and yielded more than 300,000 carats of superb blue gems.
The Smithsonian Institutions holds the world's largest cut aquamarines, the Dom Pedro, a 10,363-ct carved obelisk.
1,000 (blue-green, fine color, Brazil); also 263.5 (blue, Russia); 71.2 (pale blue, Sri Lanka); 20.7 (pale blue, Madagascar); 15.3 (blue-green, Idaho); 14.3 (blue, Connecticut).
Price Differentiation
The price of aquamarine can vary greatly depending on its color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. In general, aquamarines with a medium-dark blue-green color and a moderate to strong saturation are the most valuable. Aquamarines with a very light or very dark blue-green color, or with a strong green hue, are generally less valuable.
Please note that these are just approximate prices, and the actual price of an aquamarine will vary depending on its specific qualities.
Aquamarines less than 1 carat - 50$-100$
1-2 Carat stones 100-700$
2-4.99, 5+ Carat 100-1000$
As you can see, price for aquamarine is not so high and affordable for everyone. I don't think, that aquamarine is good choice for investment, the price is quite stable last decades. But for jewelry this color is super amazing and aquamarine looks in any country, doesn't matter where you live, in the place where the sun can be seen few times per year or in the South.
Lab-grown aquamarine has the same chemical, optical, and physical properties as its mined counterpart. The refractive index and specific gravity values of synthetics coincide with those of natural aquamarines. Synthetics also remain inert under ultraviolet light and turn greenish under a Chelsea filter, just like naturals. Their absorption spectrum matches that of naturals, too. The rare synthetics found on the market are usually eye-clean.
Unlike the case with aquamarine imitations, most traditional gemological instruments won't help you distinguish synthetic from natural aquamarines. However, you can find some evidence of synthetic origins with a microscope. Some tests conducted with advanced gem lab equipment can also provide important clues.
We don't have a big offer of aquamarines on our website, but True Gems is providing service of a curated selection of ethically sourced and genuine aquamarines for your needs.
