Aquamarine

Aquamarine is a blue to green-blue gem-quality variety of beryl. The beryl group of gemstones is most famous for chromium-rich green emerald, one of the ‘precious four’ gems (diamond, sapphire and ruby are the remaining three). Aquamarine is an official birthstone for those born in March. Aquamarine is exceptionally hard and has an outstanding vitreous glass-like luster. It is most famous for its breathtaking sea-blue colors which can range from pale light blue to medium-dark blue. The name ‘aquamarine’ was derived from an old Latin expression which meant ‘seawater’.

Aquamarine and emerald belong to the same family, but they are surprisingly different. Aquamarine and emerald are both beryllium aluminum silicates, but emerald is colored by trace amounts of chromium (and sometimes vanadium), while aquamarine obtains its color from iron impurities within colorless beryl (goshenite). Aquamarine and emerald have essentially the same specific gravity and refractive index, but emerald tends to be hazy and full of inclusions, while aquamarine is known to occur with excellent transparency and clarity.

Aquamarine Color

Like seawater, aquamarine can be pale to light-blue, dark-blue, blue-green and green-blue. The more saturated the color, the higher the value, although almost all aquamarine is typically a lighter blue tone. A deeply saturated blue is the most desirable color, but it is very rare in larger specimens. The intensity of color is one of the most important criteria when evaluating colored gemstones, but unlike other gems, aquamarine is not diminished by lesser color intensity as most aquamarine is quite pastel and many people prefer the crystal-clear lighter gemstones over the richer, deeper colors.

Aquamarine Clarity and Luster

Aquamarines of the best quality are eye-clean, transparent gems. Some gems can carry inclusions of long, hollow rods, a trademark of the beryl family. Aligned traces of foreign minerals, a rare feature, cause a cat’s eye effect (chatoyancy) or star effect (asterism) with six rays in a vivid sheen. These specimens are available as cabochon cuts. Cat’s eye aquamarine when found in high quality, can command very high prices. Six-rayed specimens with asterism or ‘star aquamarine’ is exceptionally rare and very valuable. Aquamarine has a vitreous (glass-like) luster when cut.

Aquamarine Cut and Shape

Aquamarine is available in both faceted and cabochon cuts. Beryls are particularly well-suited for rectangular or square cuts. The most favored cut for aquamarine is an emerald step-cut. Brilliant cuts with long or rectangular shapes are also very popular. Turbid and chatoyant specimens are cut en cabochon, as well as cat’s eye and star aquamarine specimens. Skilled gem cutters can facet any shape imaginable with aquamarine. The most common cuts are traditional shapes such as round, pear, oval and cushion. Fancy cuts are difficult to find in larger sizes. Aquamarine and other types of beryl are sometimes carved into ornamental figures and animal gemstone carvings.

Aquamarine Mytholgy

According to legend, aquamarine originated in the treasure chest of fabulous mermaids, and has since ancient times, been regarded as ‘the sailor’s lucky stone’. Aquamarine derives its name from the Latin term for seawater and has a long tradition of being a stone for those who spend much of their time at sea. The Greeks and the Romans knew aquamarine as the sailor’s gem too, believing that it ensured a safe and prosperous passage across stormy seas. Legend has it that aquamarines were the prized possessions of many mermaids and would thus protect sailors from the dangers of sea, including warding off sea-sickness.

In Antiquity, as well as in the Middle Ages people believed that the cosmos is reflected in gemstones. It is no surprise that aquamarine is assigned to the planet Neptune and is also one of March’s official birthstones. The esoteric movement revived the ancient belief and the gem industry made it another marketing tool to promote certain gems.

Source: Gem Select