- Education
- gems & jewellery
Learn About Aquamarine
From its hue to its name, everything about aquamarine swirls around water. No wonder the mermaids called it their own!
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Aquamarine
- Beryl
- Pale blue Greenish blue Pastel blue
- 7.5 to 8 Mohs
- Aries Pisces
- Serenity, Clarity, Harmony
- March Birthstone
Round
Heart
Pear
Overview
Aquamarine, the dazzling sea-blue gemstone, gets its name from the Latin word aqua marinus, which means "water of the sea". It is a member of the beryl mineral family. The presence of iron during its formation causes the stone to develop a distinctive hue.
An aquamarine’s colour ranges from pale blue to blue-green or teal. Those with a dark and deeply saturated blue tone are considered to be the most valuable and coveted ones.
1. Key Origin
- Brazil is the leading source of aquamarine with mines spread all across the country.
- This clear blue crystal is also mined in Australia, Myanmar (Burma), China, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as USA.
2. Associations
- The pleasant yet majestic aquamarine is associated with courage, loyalty and friendship.
- This pastel blue gem is the birthstone for those born in the month of March and is also the anniversary gemstone for the 19th anniversary.
Properties
Rated 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness
![](/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Aquamarine.jpg)
01Hardness & Strength
Aquamarines have a glass-like luster and are considerably hard and durable. This gem has been rated 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, which makes it ideal for everyday wear. Aquamarine is a wonderful center stone option for all kinds of jewellery. However, this gemstone is not completely immune to damage and can develop cracks on hard impact.
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02Treatment
In its natural state, an aquamarine is usually light blue and greenish-blue in colour. In order to remove the green hue, this gemstone is often exposed to extremely high temperatures (approximately 400 degrees Celsius) in a controlled environment. This heat treatment causes the aquamarine to change its physical properties and permanently turn to a more valuable pure blue colour. However, in comparison to a treated stone, a natural aquamarine with a bright blue colour will always fetch a higher price.
Know About Other Gems
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Aquamarine
"From its hue to its name, everything about aquamarine swirls around water. No wonder the mermaids called it their own!”
- Beryl
- Pale blue, Greenish blue, Pastel blue
- 7.5 to 8 Mohs
- Aries Pisces
- Serenity, Clarity, Harmony
- March
Round
Heart
Pear
Know About Other Gems
![](/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Heirloom-12.png)
Garnet
Don't garnets remind you of pomegranate seeds? Well, turns out their name actually comes from a Latin word that means pomegranate!
- Silicate
- Primarily red
- 6.5 to 7.5 Mohs
-
Capricorn Aquarius
- Love, Friendship, Passion
- January
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Amethyst
Amethyst is love in a gem! St. Valentine too is believed to have worn an amethyst ring with Cupid’s image.
- Quartz
- Purple, Pale lilac, Deep reddish purple
- 7 Mohs
-
Aquarius Pisces
- Wisdom, Peace, Good fortune
- February
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Citrine
In the middle ages, citrine was also called the ‘merchant's stone’ as it was believed to bring success and prosperity.
- Quartz
- Yellow-orange, Pale yellow
- 7 Mohs
-
Scorpio Sagittarius
- Positivity, Optimism
- November
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Emerald
Cleopatra was crazy about emeralds! She even took over a few Greek mines, hoping to keep all the jewels for herself.
- Beryl
- Green, Bluish green, Deep green
- 7.5 to 8 Mohs
-
Taurus Gemini
- Good fortune, Balance, Growth
- May
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Ruby
Did you know ruby and sapphire are cousins? They come from the same mineral family, which is corundum!
- Corundum
- Red
- 9 Mohs
-
Cancer Leo
- Love, Power, Passion
- July
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Moonstone
Moonstone was declared the state gem of Florida in 1970 to honor NASA’s lunar landing and the Kennedy Space Center.
- Feldspar
- Colourless, White
- 6 to 6.5 Mohs
-
Gemini Cancer
- Good fortune, Luck
- June
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Morganite
Morganites were named after J.P. Morgan, who wasn't just a genius in all things finance, but a gem enthusiast too.
- Beryl
- Pale pink, Peach
- 7.5 to 8 Mohs
- Romance, Love, Harmony
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Onyx
Many cultures believed onyx could absorb negativity. In fact, the more negativity it absorbed, the darker it became!
- Silicate
- Primarily black
- 6.5 to 7 Mohs
- Courage, Power, Good fortune
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Opal
Ancient legends suggest opals fell from the heavens in flashes of lightning. That probably explains why this gem is so magical!
- Hydrated Silica
- All colours
- 5 to 6.5 Mohs
-
Libra Scorpio
- Hope, Purity, Truth
- October
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Peridot
Unlike most gemstones that come in different colours, peridot is found only in olive green. It's a special gem, for sure!
- Olivine
- Yellowish green, Deep dark olive, Yellow-green
- 6.5 to 7 Mohs
-
Leo Virgo
- Prosperity, Good fortune
- August
![](/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Heirloom-17.png)
Rhodolite
Rhodolite gets its name from the Greek word ‘rhodon’ which means ‘rose.’ Such an apt name for this pretty stone!
- Garnet group of minerals
- Rose pink - deep purple
- 7 to 7.5 Mohs
- Positivity
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Rose Quartz
Rose quartz isn't just a pretty gem. It's believed to attract love and bring in peace and tenderness to your life.
- Quartz
- Shades of pink
- 7 Mohs
- Love, Harmony
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Sapphire
The most obsessed-over sapphire in the world is the 12-carat stunner on Princess Diana’s legendary engagement ring.
- Corundum
- Every colour but red
- 9 Mohs
-
Libra Virgo
- Truth, Sincerity, Loyalty
- September
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Swiss Blue Topaz
Wear a topaz and it could make you invisible in times of emergency. Farfetched? Well, that's what the Ancient Greeks believed!
- Silicate
- Yellow, Orange, Brown
- 8 Mohs
-
Scorpio Sagittarius
- Love, Loyalty
- November
![](/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Heirloom-21.png)
Tanzanite
Though a new discovery, tanzanites could quickly become extinct! It's because they're mined in only one place on Earth.
- Zoisite
- Violet purple, Bluish violet
- 6 to 7 Mohs
-
Sagittarius Capricorn
- Abundance, New beginnings
- December
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Tourmaline
Self-love is the best kind of love and tourmaline is considered to be the best gem to help you in this journey.
- Silicate
- All colours
- 7 to 7.5 Mohs
-
Libra Scorpio
- Friendship, Compassion
- October
![](/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Heirloom-23.png)
Tsavorite
Tsavorites may look like emeralds, but in reality, they are roughly 200 times rarer than emeralds.
- Garnet group of minerals
- Green
- 6.5 to 7.5 Mohs
- Strength, Vitality, Positivity
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Turquoise
Would you believe us if we told you that the gorgeous turquoise is one of the oldest gemstones in the world?
- Turquoise
- Blue, Greenish blue
- 5 to 6 Mohs
-
Sagittarius Capricorn
- Positivity, Happiness
- December
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The 4C’s
Aquamarine is one of the most popular semi-precious stones in the world. The below-mentioned factors help determine an aquamarine’s true value:
- Colour
- Carat
- Clarity
- Cuts
01Colour
- Just like sea water, this gemstone’s colour ranges in shades of green-blue, pastel blue and greenish blue.
- Gems with a darker shade and significant intensity are more expensive than the paler, softer blues versions as those are commonly available.
- Most of the dark coloured aquamarines found in the market are heat treated for a richer, more intense colour.
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02Carat
- This gemstone is available in a variety of sizes; from very small to extremely large.
- Large stones, especially, are available in abundance but their use in jewellery pieces is a challenge unless utilized as center stones.
- Due to low demand, large aquamarine stones that weigh more than 25 carats have less value.
03Clarity
- An aquamarine of the best quality is clear, transparent and eye-clean, which means it does not have inclusions visible to the naked eye.
- Some stones may carry liquid inclusions, while some have long, hollow, rod-like inclusions that are common in gems of the beryl family.
- Aligned traces of parallel inclusions sometimes cause a cat's eye or star-like effect, which are very rare in this crystal.
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04Cuts
- This gorgeous, pastel blue gemstone can be cut into almost any shape.
- Aquamarines, however, most commonly come in emerald cuts or in an oval shape.
- The rough gems are available in plenty and in large sizes, therefore well-cut aquamarines are also found in abundance.
Quality & Grading
Based on its properties, an aquamarine can be classified into the following categories of quality:
Gem Quality | Color | Clarity | Brilliance | Rareness | Shop Products |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Heirloom (AAAA) | ![]() | Eye Clean | Very High | Top 1% |
![]() Aquamarine Infinity Heart Pendant with Diamonds£1050 |
Best (AAA) | ![]() | Eye Clean | High | Top 10% |
![]() Aquamarine and Diamond Twisted Vine Ring£1175 |
Better (AA) | ![]() | Slightly Included | Medium | Top 33% |
![]() Pear-Shaped Aquamarine Solitaire Pendant£936.25 |
Good (A) | ![]() | Slightly Included | Low | Top 75% |
![]() Aquamarine and Diamond Tennis Bolo Bracelet£1261.25 |
Latest Pick from Aquamarine Jewelry
![Angara](https://assets.angara.com/ring/sr1912aqd/5mm-aaa-aquamarine-white-gold-ring.jpg)
Aquamarine and Diamond Twisted Vine Ring
£1175
![Angara](https://assets.angara.com/ring/sr1201aqd/8mm-aaaa-aquamarine-white-gold-ring.jpg)
Solitaire Aquamarine Twisted Split Shank Ring
£2100
![Angara](https://assets.angara.com/ring/sr1076aqd/10x8mm-aaaa-aquamarine-yellow-gold-ring.jpg)
Twist Shank Emerald Cut Aquamarine Statement Ring
£3125
![Angara](https://assets.angara.com/ring/sr0587aqd/6mm-aaaa-aquamarine-white-gold-ring.jpg)
Cushion Aquamarine Split Shank Ring with Rope Detailing
£1750
![Angara](https://assets.angara.com/ring/sr0652aq/5mm-aaa-aquamarine-white-gold-ring.jpg)
Solitaire Round Aquamarine Celtic Knot Ring
£875
Care Instructions
Aquamarine is a durable gemstone, but it still requires care and maintenance. Everyday wear can cause accumulation of dirt, and will also reduce its luster and brilliance. However, there are a few things one needs to keep in mind to maintain its luster.