History & Introduction
Aquamarine stone got its name from the Latin word aqua, meaning water, and marine,
meaning the sea. There was a saying about aquamarine stone that it protected the
sailors and it was assured that it gave a safe voyage. Aquamarine stones come from
the beryl family like the green emerald. It was believed that the serene color of
aquamarine helped to cool the temper and allowing the wearer to remain calm.
Aquamarine mainly shows in greenish-blue to blue-green color; in larger stones the
color is stronger. Aquamarine is popularly known as the birthstone for March. It
is supposed to bring wealth, health, love, affection, care, friendship, relationships,
prosperity, and many more to its wearers.
The aquamarine gemstones were used as jewelry by the Romans and they believed that
if the figure of a frog was carved from an aquamarine stone, then it would help
to resolve enmity and increase friends. It was so famous that the Romans who were
in love gave aqua as a wedding gift to their girlfriends as they believed that the
stone absorbs the atmosphere of young love. It was also believed by the Romans and
the Greeks that the aqua stone ensured a safe and prosperous journey through stormy
seas and also believed to bring victory in the battle.
Small bits of iron present in the aquamarine crystalline structure help in the formation
of the blue shades, which are available in different shades of blue from the pale
blue of the sky to that of the sea. Aquamarine gemstones are seen in various sizes.
Mainly the collectors of minerals prefer stones of relatively large size. As the
quality of Hardness of the stone is available quite fine and thus seems to be good
in making it suitable to design the ultra-modern jewels that are attractive and
stunning too. The shape of these stones are natural and they are shaped as hexagonally
crystals and faceted ones. To develop shadowy stones, aquamarine gems can be cut
into more attractive cabochons.
Recognise - Due to its sea-blue color aquamarine is identified
typically. In fact, it tends to be hard and has a vitreous luster. Aquamarine stones
keep the clarity and transparency when comparing with other gems. The significant
thing is the intensity of color and the clarity of the stone when the aquamarine
stone is analyzed as seen with closely by quality of cut. The color of aquamarine
is by the trace amounts of iron and testing of the composition, trace elements and
its six-sided crystal structure, which is differentiated easily from other blue-green
stones.
Availability - Brazil is the principal producer of aquamarine having
many mines throughout the country. Other deposits of aquamarine come from Australia,
Kenya, Myanmar (Burma), Zambia, China, Mozambique, India, Madagascar, Namibia, Pakistan
and Zimbabwe, Nigeria and U.S. At present India is among the major suppliers of
aquamarine.
Usages - Aquamarine is a light-blue gemstone, and is mainly used
for jewelry purposes. The designers pick up small gems that fit into jewels like
pendants, rings, bangles and many more articles. Very large display gems, that are
too large to use in jewelry that for normal use, in fact tend to be faceted rarely
and exclusively for collectors. Stones with low transparency may be cut into cabochons.
Collectors value the high quality Aquamarine crystals available in its natural form.
Buying Guide
Color - Like seawater, the color of aquamarine is light-blue, dark-blue,
blue-green and green-blue. Highly valued stones are more saturated in color, however
naturally the aquamarine has a lighter blue tone. A deep saturated blue is the maximum
desirable color, however, it is quite rare in larger examples. The strength of color
is one of the most important measures kept in mind while evaluating colored gemstones,
however, unlike the other stones this gemstone aquamarine is not differentiated
with less intensity of color; in fact a large number of people actually look for
more crystal-clear lighter gemstones over the colors that are richer as well as
deeper.
Clarity and Lustre - Qualitative aquamarines gemstone is available
transparent as well as eye-clean gems. Presence of traces of foreign minerals, a
rare feature, causes a cat's eye effect (chatoyancy) or star effect (asterism) with
six rays in a vivid sheen. Cat's eye aquamarine are expensive in the market. The
valuable aquamarine stone are a six-rayed specimens with asterism or 'star aquamarine'
and is very valuable. When the aquamarine stone is cut it shows vitreous (glass-like)
luster.
Cut and Shape - Aquamarine is found in both faceted and cabochon
cuts. Beryl are particularly matched with rectangular or square cuts. The Emerald
step-cut is considered to be the most ideal cut for aquamarine. Excellent cuts with
long or rectangular shapes are also very popular. Examples like turbid and chatoyant
are cut en cabochon and also the cat's eye comes under star aquamarine specimens.
Any shape imagined for aquamarine the skilled gem cutters can facet. The common
cuts are tend to be the traditional shapes like oval, round, pear and cushion. In
larger size fancy cuts are difficult to find. Aquamarine along with other kinds
of beryl stone are carved into beautiful figures of animals or made into ornaments.
Treatment - For enhancement of color the aquamarine gemstones are
mainly treated with heat, but many are untreated. When at a low temperature heat
is given, unwanted green and yellowish tones are reduced. Dark color aquamarine
are mainly, as well as lower quality stones (Usually at 725-850 F or 400-450 C)
in order to enhance the color to be a favorable blue. In case of high temper heating
would result in discoloration.
Gemological Characteristics: