MENU

History & Introduction


Aquamarine stone got its name from the Latin word aqua, meaning water, and marine, meaning the sea. There was a saying about aquamarine stone that it protected the sailors and it was assured that it gave a safe voyage. Aquamarine stones come from the beryl family like the green emerald. It was believed that the serene color of aquamarine helped to cool the temper and allowing the wearer to remain calm.

Aquamarine mainly shows in greenish-blue to blue-green color; in larger stones the color is stronger. Aquamarine is popularly known as the birthstone for March. It is supposed to bring wealth, health, love, affection, care, friendship, relationships, prosperity, and many more to its wearers.

The aquamarine gemstones were used as jewelry by the Romans and they believed that if the figure of a frog was carved from an aquamarine stone, then it would help to resolve enmity and increase friends. It was so famous that the Romans who were in love gave aqua as a wedding gift to their girlfriends as they believed that the stone absorbs the atmosphere of young love. It was also believed by the Romans and the Greeks that the aqua stone ensured a safe and prosperous journey through stormy seas and also believed to bring victory in the battle.

Small bits of iron present in the aquamarine crystalline structure help in the formation of the blue shades, which are available in different shades of blue from the pale blue of the sky to that of the sea. Aquamarine gemstones are seen in various sizes. Mainly the collectors of minerals prefer stones of relatively large size. As the quality of Hardness of the stone is available quite fine and thus seems to be good in making it suitable to design the ultra-modern jewels that are attractive and stunning too. The shape of these stones are natural and they are shaped as hexagonally crystals and faceted ones. To develop shadowy stones, aquamarine gems can be cut into more attractive cabochons.

Recognise - Due to its sea-blue color aquamarine is identified typically. In fact, it tends to be hard and has a vitreous luster. Aquamarine stones keep the clarity and transparency when comparing with other gems. The significant thing is the intensity of color and the clarity of the stone when the aquamarine stone is analyzed as seen with closely by quality of cut. The color of aquamarine is by the trace amounts of iron and testing of the composition, trace elements and its six-sided crystal structure, which is differentiated easily from other blue-green stones.

Availability - Brazil is the principal producer of aquamarine having many mines throughout the country. Other deposits of aquamarine come from Australia, Kenya, Myanmar (Burma), Zambia, China, Mozambique, India, Madagascar, Namibia, Pakistan and Zimbabwe, Nigeria and U.S. At present India is among the major suppliers of aquamarine.

Usages - Aquamarine is a light-blue gemstone, and is mainly used for jewelry purposes. The designers pick up small gems that fit into jewels like pendants, rings, bangles and many more articles. Very large display gems, that are too large to use in jewelry that for normal use, in fact tend to be faceted rarely and exclusively for collectors. Stones with low transparency may be cut into cabochons. Collectors value the high quality Aquamarine crystals available in its natural form.

Buying Guide

Color - Like seawater, the color of aquamarine is light-blue, dark-blue, blue-green and green-blue. Highly valued stones are more saturated in color, however naturally the aquamarine has a lighter blue tone. A deep saturated blue is the maximum desirable color, however, it is quite rare in larger examples. The strength of color is one of the most important measures kept in mind while evaluating colored gemstones, however, unlike the other stones this gemstone aquamarine is not differentiated with less intensity of color; in fact a large number of people actually look for more crystal-clear lighter gemstones over the colors that are richer as well as deeper.

Clarity and Lustre - Qualitative aquamarines gemstone is available transparent as well as eye-clean gems. Presence of traces of foreign minerals, a rare feature, causes a cat's eye effect (chatoyancy) or star effect (asterism) with six rays in a vivid sheen. Cat's eye aquamarine are expensive in the market. The valuable aquamarine stone are a six-rayed specimens with asterism or 'star aquamarine' and is very valuable. When the aquamarine stone is cut it shows vitreous (glass-like) luster.

Cut and Shape - Aquamarine is found in both faceted and cabochon cuts. Beryl are particularly matched with rectangular or square cuts. The Emerald step-cut is considered to be the most ideal cut for aquamarine. Excellent cuts with long or rectangular shapes are also very popular. Examples like turbid and chatoyant are cut en cabochon and also the cat's eye comes under star aquamarine specimens. Any shape imagined for aquamarine the skilled gem cutters can facet. The common cuts are tend to be the traditional shapes like oval, round, pear and cushion. In larger size fancy cuts are difficult to find. Aquamarine along with other kinds of beryl stone are carved into beautiful figures of animals or made into ornaments.

Treatment - For enhancement of color the aquamarine gemstones are mainly treated with heat, but many are untreated. When at a low temperature heat is given, unwanted green and yellowish tones are reduced. Dark color aquamarine are mainly, as well as lower quality stones (Usually at 725-850 F or 400-450 C) in order to enhance the color to be a favorable blue. In case of high temper heating would result in discoloration.

Gemological Characteristics:

Chemical Formula Al2Be3Si6O18, Aluminum beryllium silicate
Crystal Structure Hexagonal, hexagonal prisms
Color Light-blue to dark-blue, blue-green
Hardness 7.5 - 8
Refractive Index 15.64 - 1.596
Density 2.68 - 2.74
Cleavage Indistinct
Transparency Transparent to opaque
Double Refraction / Birefringence -0.004 to -0.005
Lustre Vitreous
Fluorescence None
Streak Colorless
Crystal Forms and Aggregates It is stubby crystals, but even available in tabular crystals and flattened hexagonal plates. It is found in columnar aggregates, in distorted etched crystals, and in massive form. Usually crystals are drusy or platy aggregates and as bundles of long and thin crystals.
Fracture Uneven to conchoidal
Tenacity Brittle
In Group Silicates; Cyclosilicates
Rock Type Igneous
Popularity (1-4) 1
Prevalence (1-3) 2
Demand (1-3) 1

Classification:

Customer Service

About Rasav Gems

Your Account

Education

Activities

Copyright © 2024. Rasav Gems. All Rights Reserved