Aquamarine
from the Antique Jewelry University
From all the members of the beryl family, aquamarine is the best known after emerald. It has a pale green bluish to medium dark blue colour, resembling non-poluted seawater. Aquamarine (from Latin: water from the sea) with a highly saturated blue color has been discovered at the Santa Maria de Itabira mine in Brazil and is named "Santa Maria aquamarine" in the gem trade. Although we usually associate the blue variety of beryl with aquamarine, there are a few other blue beryls. A beryl variety of a dark blue color has been found in Canada which has an even darker blue color due to very high concentrations of ferrous iron. Also from Brazil comes a non-stable blue beryl, named maxixe, but the color of this gemstone is not stable in daylight. Both maxixe and the true blue from Canada are very rare blue beryls. Due to its lovely color which compliments one's skin color and its durability aquamarine has been one of the most popular gemstones from ancient times to the present day.
There are many other sources where aquamarine is mined, most notable Nigeria, Zambia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The more intense the blue hue is, the more valuable the stone will be. With some exceptions, aquamarine is one of the more affordable of the top ranked gemstones.
To remove the less desirable green component of an aquamarine, it is nowadays routinely heat treated at around 800 degrees Fahrenheit (ca. 425 degrees C.) leaving only the blue cast which is a stable color.
Aquamarine comes in all sizes and large stones are readibly available. A 243 pound (110 kg.) rough crystal was found in 1920 in Brazil and sold for only $25,000.00. Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt was presented with a 1,847 carat aquamarine by the Brazilian government in 1935, the stone is now on display in the Hyde Park Museum, New York city.
The powers of aquamarine as an amulet were known to the ancient Greeks and Romans. It was not only a symbol of eternal youth and happiness, but when engraved with a depiction of Poseidon on his chariot, sailors believed they were invicible to the perils of the sea which made them fearless and couragous. Aquamarine has been documented as early as in the 4th century BC. Other metaphysical powers are attributed to aquamarine, such as the reduction of fear and phobia, as an anti-depressor, it can help you set your goal to guarantee success. This gemstone stimilates the throat chakra and is thus the stone to use when one needs to speak in public. It also insures safe travel over seas and new mystics believe it can cure ailments of the throat, ears, mouth, heart, thymus, breathing allergies, the immune system and the lymph nodes.
Aquamarine the gift for the 19th wedding year and is the birthstone for March and the stone of Pisces.
| Gemological information for aquamarine | |
|---|---|
| Color | pale greenish blue to blue |
| Crystal structure | Hexagonal |
| Refractive index | 1.577-1.583 |
| Durability | Excellent |
| Hardness | 7.5-8 |
| Family | Beryl |
| Similar stones | Aquamarine may be confused with synthetic spinel, blue zircon, blue topaz, pale blue sapphire, kyanite, tourmaline, apatite and glass |
| Treatments | Heat treatment |
| Country of origin | Brazil, Nigeria, Zambia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Afghanistan And Pakistan |
| Aquamarine care | |
| Ultrasonic cleaning | Not safe |
| Steam cleaning | Not safe |
| Warm soapy water | Safe with a soft brush |
| Chemical attact | None |
| Light sensitivity | None |
| Heat sensitivity | May alter the color |