Gemstones

A Guide to Aquamarine

July 15th 2022

People born in March have an aquamarine birthstone. One reason for this may be that in many parts of the world March brings an end to the grey skies of winter, and ushers in the clear blue skies of spring. However, the word “aquamarine” comes from the Latin “aqua marina,” or “seawater.” The Mediterranean Sea that surrounded much of the ancient world is known for having clear, blue water, which is the color of this lovely gem.

Of course, this ancient connection between aquamarine and water is one reason why we use it in our aquamarine jewelry designs. Princess Elsa from Frozen is associated with water, in the form of ice. We believe there’s no better way to represent this princess in our jewelry than with aquamarine. But, what do buyers need to know about aquamarine stone?

What is Aquamarine?

Aquamarine is the blue version of beryl. Other members of the beryl family include emerald and morganite, and the chemical composition is beryllium aluminum silicate. By itself, beryl is naturally colorless, but in aquamarine a form of iron makes the crystal blue or blue-green. Aquamarine properties include a hardness of 7.5 to 8 which is relatively high on the scale. All Enchanted Fine Jewelry is made with utmost care taken to ensure that the Aquamarine is safe, secure and set for years of wear.

Like many other stones, aquamarine is mined in many places worldwide. This includes Brazil, which is a major production area for many gemstones, India, Pakistan, Myanmar, China, Madagascar, Nigeria, and several East African countries. Each of these locations have different qualities of aquamarine.

Aquamarine Value Factors

Generally speaking, aquamarine is middle of the road in terms of price: not very expensive. In fact, it’s much less expensive than emeralds or diamonds. However, as a general rule the deeper the shade of blue, the more valuable the stone is. This holds true no matter how large the stone is, though large stones tend to have a darker color. Also, a pure blue aquamarine is more desirable than a greenish one. For this reason, most greenish aquamarine is heat treated to turn the stone blue. This is a risky process, and it doesn’t always work. Other types of treatments are uncommon for Aquamarine.

Another factor in aquamarine value is clarity. Nearly all faceted aquamarines are “eye clean” or very close to it. Finally, carat weight influences value. Although aquamarine doesn’t have an large difference in terms of large and small stones, you’ll still pay more for big stones.

Aquamarine Jewelry

Because of its lovely color and status as a birthstone, aquamarine is a popular choice for jewelry. Enchanted Disney Fine Jewelry uses gorgeous aquamarines. The same thing goes with aquamarine earrings and aquamarine necklaces. As a relatively hard mineral, aquamarine can be worn in jewelry for a long time. A lot of it is even passed down as an heirloom.

As a rule, aquamarine looks best in 14k white gold or 14k rose gold, and sterling silver. The white metals show off the pale blue of the aquamarine, while the rose gold adds a nice contrast. In addition, white diamonds add a nice amount of sparkle and style to the pale blue of aquamarine. This is one reason why some women would enjoy an aquamarine engagement ring. For this, we’d recommend a ring with gold and diamonds.

Within the Enchanted Disney Fine Jewelry collection of Princess Elsa jewelry, aquamarine is combined with motifs like the snowflakes, keys and crowns to represent her story of courage and resilience and her unique beauty.

Taking Care of Aquamarine

Like most gemstones and jewelry, warm water and soap often clean your aquamarine jewelry well. Just let the jewelry soak for a few minutes, then rinse and wipe to dry. If the dirt is heavier, use a soft toothbrush to dislodge any soil. Store your aquamarine jewelry in the box it came in, or put it in a special jewelry box with soft interiors. This will help safeguard your jewelry from dirt while being stored, and minimize the risk of damage or loss.