The aquamarine gemstone is a member of a prestigious family, the beryls. Its relatives include the emerald, the heliodor (golden beryl), and THE morganite (pink beryl). Mined on almost every continent, it is found in the greatest abundance In Brazil, Nigeria and Mozambique. It comes in colors from bluish-green to greenish-blue and all the shades in between.

Aquamarine is Latin for “water of the sea.” It is the birth stone for Pisces born in March and April. Legend tells us that this seawater gem protected sailors on their seafaring journeys.

The history of the aquamarine goes back to Brazil in the 1900s where it was found in a deep, dark saturated blue color. Today, the aquamarine is more likely to be found in a much lighter, less saturated color. What saturated stones there are come from countries in Africa. Lighter aquas are available from India. China also exports aquamarines, but mostly in very light blues that are sometimes called “white aquas.” Some small pockets of the stone can be found in the United States, in North Carolina’s Hiddeninte area.

Color is always a matter of taste and is so it is with color preference in aquamarine stones. Some contain a heavy green cast. Some are a little green mixed in with mostly blue. The most sought after color seems to be the aquas that come from Africa and a have no green component in them at all.

The quality of an aquamarine varies, as it does in every other stone. Most aquamarines include few visible inclusions (dark spots), but as always, it is important to examine the stone one buys.

In most cases, aquamarines are clean to the eye, so their value depends primarily on their color and it is color which establishes their price. The more saturated and darker toned, “pure blue” aquas are the most expensive and most sought after.

Gemstone Enhancement
Almost all naturally greenish-blue aquamarines are heated to remove their green components. This process is called thermal enhancement. Expert gemologists can tell a thermally enhanced stone from one that is not, by looking at it with an instrument called a dicroscope or Polaroid plate. Under such examination, the untreated stone will reveal itself as in two colors (green and blue), while heated aqua will tend to show two tones of the same blue color. Because this process is not fool proof, it is particularly important to purchase this gemstone from a reputable dealer, who can help you decide the quality of stone that is right for you.

Care and Cleaning of Aquamarine
Aquamarines are not as fragile as their emerald cousins. The aquamarine is durable and wears well. To keep dust from scratching the stone, it should be rinsed and then wiped with a clean cloth. That’s all there is to it!

Repairs of Jewelry with Aquamarine Stones
It is preferable with all colored gens to have them removed from their settings before any repair work it preformed. To avoid the possibility of damaging the stone, heat should never be applied directly to it.

Want to Know More?
Check this out . . . Emerald and Other Beryls, Dr. John Sinkankas, Geoscience Press, 1981.