Aquamarine Gemstone – A Comprehensive Buying Guide

Aquamarine, named after seawater, is one of the most beautiful blue gemstones you will ever place your eyes on. Its serene color reminds you of the tranquil and soothing blues of the water; the kind of calming water that makes you want to dive right in. No wonder why aquamarine jewelry is becoming increasingly popular among people, especially an aquamarine ring.

If you are not familiar with this beautiful gemstone, this article is for you! Let us dive into the mesmerizing world of this blue stone and unravel what makes it so impressive.

Aquamarine Gemstone

The term aquamarine accurately describes the stone's physical characteristics. It got its name from two Latin words, aqua, and marine, which respectively translate to water and sea.

It belongs to the mineral beryl, the same mineral group that emerald and morganite belong to. Aquamarine gets its blue hue from the iron impurities present within colorless beryl. It comes in different shades of blue, ranging from pale and pastel blues to greenish blue and intense blue. Aquamarine gemstones that are dark blue to slightly greenish blue are considered of the highest quality.

Symbolism

Aquamarine is a stone with many meanings. It stands for peace, purity, tranquility, and balance. As one of the spring birthstones, it symbolizes growth and rebirth. Additionally, it represents vigor, fidelity, hope, and honesty that come from youth.

This sparkling sea blue gem is the modern birthstone for March. If you are a March baby, having an aquamarine necklace, ring, or jewelry piece can prove lucky!

Origin

The discovery of aquamarine took place in the year 1723 in modernity far from the sea in Siberia. However, now you can find aquamarine in different regions, including Brazil, Tanzania, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, etc.

Durability

Aquamarine has a rating of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness. It is fairly durable and a good choice for jewelry. With routine care and maintenance, it can last for years.

What are the 4 Cs of aquamarine gemstones?

Color

As I already mentioned above, aquamarine comes in different shades of blue, ranging from soft blue and greenish-blue to intense blue. You should know that the deeper and purer the shade of blue, the more valuable the gemstone. Aquamarines with a slightly greenish-blue hue are also popular choices.

Clarity

Generally, the majority of the faceted aquamarine stones are clear and clean. Although liquid inclusions may be present in some crystals, most finished gems lack or have minimal clarity attributes. Inclusion-filled aquamarine gemstones are generally carved, beaded, or shaped into cabochons.

Cut

Although aquamarine gemstones can be cut into practically any shape, round, oval, and emerald cuts are the most popular shapes.

Carat Weight

Aquamarine crystals are available in different sizes, ranging from very small to very large. Although large aquamarine stones are widely available, there is less of a market for them as they are harder to work with in jewelry. Due to this, prices per carat for sizes more than 25 carats tend to decline.

Aquamarine Jewelry

Thanks to its beautiful hue and durability, aquamarine works nicely with different kinds of jewelry. Among the different pieces, aquamarine rings are highly sought-after. They come in a variety of designs, from minimalistic styles to something extra and flamboyant.

If you are going for a classic jewelry piece, choose platinum, silver, or white gold metal for your aquamarine gemstone. This combination gives the jewelry a contemporary look. But if you want to go for a distinctive and striking appearance, yellow-gold and rose-gold metal are perfect. They will offer your jewelry, for instance, a pair of aquamarine earrings, a vintage and classic touch.

Final Verdict

If you don't have aquamarine jewelry in your collection, you are clearly missing out! Its enchanting blue color, durability, and symbolism make it a valuable steal.