Aquamarine gemstone

Physical properties of aquamarine

Characteristics of aquamarine

Aquamarine gemstone (noble beryl, aquamarine) is a kind of transparent beryl. The name "aquamarine" is translated from Latin as "sea water".

Indeed, the color of aquamarine resembles the color of sea water. Although there are aquamarines and other shades - green, blue, yellow, golden and even pink. Moreover, the color saturation can be enhanced in the evening or artificial lighting. Or it can change depending on the angle of view (which is very important to consider when cutting a gemstone). And some aquamarines are also heat-treated to make them more beautiful (or even change color altogether). In addition, aquamarines can sometimes lose color when exposed to sunlight for a long time (heat treatment can also give color fastness - heating aquamarine to 500 degrees).

There are also aquamarines with a transitional color - for example, with a yellow center and blue edges or blue in the center and greenish edges.

In Brazil, aquamarines of an unusual blue-sapphire color are mined, which are called maxix-aquamarines (Maxix is the name of the mine).

Sometimes there are inclusions in aquamarines - “snow signs” or they are also called “chrysanthemums”.

Often, aquamarine can be confused with blue topaz or synthetic quartz.

In nature, aquamarines can reach very large sizes. The record belongs to the Brazilian stone, which weighs just over 110 kilograms and is 48.5 cm long. Part of this aquamarine is kept in the New York Museum, the rest is sawn into separate stones. And in the Kremlin Armory there is a 30 cm long scepter of the Polish king Stanislav, which was carved from a single aquamarine.

How much is aquamarine

The price of aquamarine increases with the color saturation of the stone. The most expensive and rare are blue aquamarines. Price - from $80 to $150 per 1 carat, depending on the purity and size of the stone. Aquamarines of bright blue color are highly valued. Their cost is from $40 to $100 per carat. Aquamarines with a greenish tint are valued the lowest - from $5 to $50 per carat. But often greenish aquamarines are subjected to irradiation or calcination to remove the greenish tint. Poor non-jewelry quality aquamarine beads can be purchased for $100-$300.