A Guide to Buying Aquamarine

Aquamarine is a light blue to turquoise form of the mineral beryl, very closely related to emerald. Other colors of beryl are referred to as distinct mineral species, rose-pink is called morganite, white is goshenite, and yellow heliodor. Aquamarine can be found anywhere there is beryl, some of the highest quality comes from Russia. They are also commonly found in Brazil, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, the United States and Zambia. The name is derived from the Latin words “aqua marina” or “water of the sea,” referring to its light blue color similar to that of seawater.  

As with any gem the color is very important in determining its value, although personal taste can always flavor its worth. You may find aquamarine with a bit of a blue-greenish hue, but it is usually a very pale blue color which makes those of a deeper blue rarer and therefore more valuable. Because aquamarine is transparent a high-quality gem should have at least eye-clean clarity.

You will find aquamarine cut into every shape and size that you can find a diamond and then some. Shallower stones will tend to be more pale so a little depth to the pavilion is usually good. Consistent with all colored stones a natural untreated stone is worth more than one that has been altered, although aquamarine is usually heat treated to enhance and stabilize the color.

Facet-grade aquamarine is commonly found in the one to seven carat range, specimens over 10 carats are markedly harder to find and therefore much more expensive. The world’s largest aquamarine was mined in 1910 at Marambaia, Brazil weighing in at 110kg (550,000 carats) and measured 48.5 cm long and 42 cm in diameter.

Aquamarine Properties (A variety of beryl)