Aquamarine - the March birthstone
Also the 19th wedding anniversary gemstone
Mineral - Beryl
Colour - Greenish blue, light in tone
Mohs Hardness - 7.5 - 8
Aquamarine is a colour variant of the mineral beryl. Other famous beryl stones are Emerald (green) and Morganite (peach-pink).
The name is derived from two Latin words, aqua (water) and marina (of the sea). It was believed that the stone would protect sailors from storms and provide them with calm seas. There is a definite feeling of peace when you wear one of these bright gemstones.
The colour
The most valuable aquamarine stones are dark blue to greenish blue with strong colour intensity. Most of the aquamarine on the market are light greenish blue and finding small stones (under 5ct) that show intense colour are rare. The biggest competitor to aquamarine is blue topaz. Where these stones can sometimes look identical in colour and tone, aquamarine sells at a much higher cost per carat than blue topaz.
Where is aquamarine found?
Stones from Nigeria, Madagascar and Mozambique are known for their intense colour in small stones and our preferred stones for our pieces. The stones are mostly cut as round and oval brilliant and emerald cuts. These show off the brilliance and tones beautifully. Eye clean stones are generally reserved for facetted stones, where rough with visible inclusions are shaped into cabochons, beads or carvings.
Aquamarine care and cleaning
Aquamarine has a hardness of 7.5 - 8, making it a suitable stone for daily wear in rings and other pieces of jewellery. When storing your aquamarine, keep it separate from other harder stones like sapphires and diamonds, as these will be able to scratch your gem.
Cleaning in an ultrasonic cleaner is generally safe if the stone has no visible inclusions. Warm soapy water is our best recommendation for cleaning your jewel. If in doubt, get in touch with us!
Why we love aquamarine
- The colour! It's cool and calming with a bright sparkle.
- The unique carved aquamarine stones, artfully done by hand.
- It's a durable stone with value that becomes an heirloom piece for generations to come.
Most of our solitaire, trilogy and eternity pieces can be customised with aquamarine.
