Aquamarine

Rough and Popular Cuts of Aquamarine

I absolutely love Aquamarine gemstones----faceted, rough crystals, cabochons---they are just the most beautiful, clear gem!  They are a gorgeous ocean-blue color, that range from very pale blue to slightly greenish-blue, like the various oceans around the world.  They are not like Blue Topaz in color, although both are blue, and Aquamarines are considerably more valuable and expensive.  Aquamarines are considered a precious gemstone, like it's counterpart, Emerald.   I've collected Aquamarines since I was 18 years old and saw a big, faceted Aquamarine at the "Hall of Gems" in the Field Museum in Chicago.  My first "real" piece of jewelry was an Aquamarine ring I received as a gift, and my first purchase of jewelry for myself was a pair of Aquamarine earrings set in white gold. 

Faceted Aquamarine

Facts about Aquamarine:

Aquamarine Crystal

• It is the birthstone for the month of March
• It is the gemstone for the 19th Wedding Anniversary
• It is mined at 15,000 feet in the mountains of Pakistan
• Aquamarine's name comes from the Latin for "seawater"
• Wearing an Aquamarine is said to enhance happiness in marriage
• It is a Beryl mineral, like emerald, and can grow in large crystals
• The largest gem crystal found so far is 19 inches long -- over 242 POUNDS
• It has a Mohs hardness of 7.5-8.0 which is perfect for daily wear in jewelry
• Aquamarine can be found in Vietnam, Nigeria, Zambia, Mozambique (very blue!), Madagascar, and Brazil as well as Pakistan
• It grows in beautiful 6-sided crystals
• Faceted Aquamarine is very transparent with vitreous luster (so it highly sparkles)
• It is dichroic---highly transparent at some angles, and more blue in others

Assessing the following characteristics determines the value of the Aquamarine:

• Color: Aquamarine’s preferred color is a moderately strong dark blue to slightly greenish blue
• Clarity: Most cut gems are eye-clean. Large examples are available without visible inclusions. 
• Cut: Because aquamarine’s color is light, cutting is important and well-cut gems show brilliance.
• Carat weight: Aquamarine crystals range from tiny to very large—some even up to 100 lbs! 
• The Dom Pedro aquamarine obelisk by gem sculptor Bernd Munsteiner is the largest cut aquamarine: