The Beginner's Guide Aquamarine

The Basics:
 
Mineral: Beryl
Chemical Formula: Be3Al2Si6O18
Color: Light blue to bluish green
Mohs Scale Hardness: 7.5 – 8.0

The Birthstone of March: Related to other beryl gems like Emerald and Morganite, Aquamarine is a striking blue stone with high clarity and often an eye-clean appearance. Derived from Latin, aqua ‘water’ marine ‘of the sea’ gets its namesake from its bright glassy blue color.

The deeper the color of an Aquamarine stone, the higher the value. Other important factors can include quality of clarity and cut, as better cuts highlight the stone’s brilliance. Rarely, Aquamarine can contain a cat’s eye effect, or chatoyancy, in which light reflects in a vertical sliver of visual delight that appears to move when the stone is rotated side to side.

History: Brazil remains the leading source for Aquamarine, while Australia, Burma, China, India, Kenya, and some locations in the United States have produced quality stones. The largest aqua to date was found in the ‘Minas Gerais’ mine in Marambaya, Brazil. Weighing in at over 240lbs and almost 19 inches long, the aquamarine produced over 100,000 carats of carved gemstones.

How to Wear It: With a durable hardness on the Mohs Scale of 7.5-8.0, aquamarine is versatile and can be worn as earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings. Most commonly faceted into an emerald cut, aquamarine’s beautiful blue color compliments every skin tone and eye color.  

Aquamarine is strong, but, like most other gemstones, it can be prone to cracking if it suffers a direct hit, so treat it with care. It’s safe to wash with warm soapy water but should avoid being heated to avoid discoloration. Ultrasonic machines are safe to use on your aquas, so long as the stone isn’t compromised by a crack.

Mythology & Symbolism: Like the history of its name suggests, aquamarine is considered the sailor’s “lucky stone” and is said to ensure safe passage across tumultuous seas. In folklore, aquamarine is considered to have healing powers when worn against the skin.