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Aquamarine is the blue to greenish-blue member of the beryl family. Other notable stones in this family include emerald and morganite. Aquamarine has been used in jewellery for thousands of years and today is still one of the most popular gemstones.Â
Aquamarine has a narrow colour range, and as the name suggests, always has a blue component. The colouring is caused by the presence of iron in the crystal structure. It comes in bluish green to greenish blue to deep blue, with tones varying from very light to moderately dark. More saturated stones often command higher prices as they are rarer.
March birthdays are treated to both aquamarine and bloodstone for their March birthstones.
While aquamarine is the main birthstone for March, bloodstone is also a March birthstone. Bloodstone is a dark green opaque stone with red flecks of hematite (iron oxide) through it, resembling blood. It is part of the jasper family, and is often cut into cabochons or set into signet rings with family crests. Bloodstone is also called heliotrope, a name from ancient Greek meaning ‘to turn the sun’.
Aquamarine is the traditional gift for the 19th wedding anniversary.
The name ‘aquamarine’ derives from the latin ‘aqua’ meaning water, and ‘marina’ meaning of the sea.
Thought to have first been unearthed by the Ancient Egyptians, aquamarine has been used for millennia in cultural objects. The Ancient Romans believed that an aquamarine carved into the shape of a frog would make their enemies their friends. They, along with the Greek sailors also carried the gem onboard ships as a good luck charm during storms.
During the Middle Ages aquamarine was also thought to protect from poisoning.
Aquamarine is found worldwide, with the most significant fine aquamarine deposits occurring in Brazil. Madagascar is also a major source, with over 50 locations on the island that produce good quality material. Aquamarine found in Minas Gerais (Brazil), the Karakorum foothills (Pakistan), and various African countries is highly prized. The gemstone is often discovered in hard rock pegmatite deposits, typically in rocky hills and mountainous terrains.
Aquamarine is found in several locations in Australia, but the most prolific area is that of Mt Surprise in Queensland at O’Brien’s Creek.
One of the most beautiful aquamarine jewellery suites in the world belonged to Queen Elizabeth II. A necklace and earrings were originally given as a coronation gift by the Brazilian President. In 1957 she was inspired by these, and commissioned Garrad to create a matching tiara. This set was then named the ‘Brazilian Aquamarine Parure’. Over the next 15 years Brazil continued to provide the Queen with exquisite aquamarines set in jewellery to match the original necklace and earrings. She was often seen wearing the set, with 2017 being the last time she wore it in public.
Colour is the most important aspect when it comes to pricing aquamarine, followed by clarity.
Most aquamarines are a light slightly greenish blue and are quite common, so prices are modest.
The most expensive aquamarines are given the trade name ‘Santa Maria’, named after the Brazilian mine that the original came from; Santa Maria de Itabira, even though today stones may not come from that location. Santa Maria type aquamarine is known for its deep blue ocean colour, and attracts high prices for its rarity and desirability.
It’s always best to leave identifying gemstones up to experts. Your local jeweller may have a gemmologist on site that can test your stone to see if it is real. Even so, it is important to be aware of confusing marketing terms that may be used online as well as treatments that may not be stable.
You may come across something called ‘white aquamarine’ online. While, still part of the beryl family, a white ‘aquamarine’, commonly turns out to be a goshenite, which is a cheaper gemstone.
Maxixe-type beryl is also something that occasionally occurs in the marketplace. They appear to be a heavily saturated aquamarine colour, and are often treated to achieve this. Although rare, naturally occurring stones do exist. Unfortunately this colour fades irreversibly with exposure to sunlight and/or heat so it is not suitable to be worn in jewellery.
Aquamarine has a Moh’s hardness of 7.5-8, meaning it is suitable for everyday wear if taken care of. It is safe to clean your aquamarine at home with a soft brush and warm soapy water, and then drying with a soft cloth. It is not recommended to use a steam cleaner or ultrasonic cleaner, as even microscopic inclusions can cause major damage to the stone. Like all jewellery, ensure you take it off while doing housework, going to the gym, swimming etc so it is beautiful for many years to come.
Here at Diamondport Jewellers we have the ability to make your desired custom piece in house, meaning we can work towards what you wish to spend. A cost effective option is to set your aquamarine in silver or 9ct yellow gold, whereas for more expensive stones it may be worth considering setting those in 14ct or 18ct gold, or even platinum.
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