Named after seawater, aquamarine's fresh watery hue is a cool plunge into a refreshing pool.
Blue to slightly greenish-blue variety of the mineral beryl. Crystals are sometimes big enough to cut fashioned gems of more than 100 carats. Well-formed crystals might make superb mineral specimens.
overview
Aquamarine's name comes from the Latin for seawater and it was said to calm waves and keep sailors safe at sea. March's birthstone was also thought to enhance the happiness of marriages. The best gems combine high clarity with limpid transparency and blue to slightly greenish blue hues. Like many beryls, aquamarine forms large crystals suitable for sizable fashioned gems and carvings.
The largest gem-quality aquamarine crystal mined to date is 19 inches long.
Aquamarine is mined at high elevations in Pakistan's Karakoram Mountains.
Aquamarine is mined at high elevations in Pakistan's Karakoram Mountains.
Quality Factors
Assessment of the following characteristics determines aquamarine's value.
Aquamarine's preferred color is a moderately strong dark blue to slightly greenish blue.
Most cut gems are eye-clean. Large examples are available without visible inclusions.
Because aquamarine's color is light, cutting is important and well-cut gems show brilliance.
Aquamarine crystals range from tiny to very large—some even up to 100 lbs.
We value your privacy
On our website, we use services (including from third-party providers) that help us to improve our online presence. The following categories of cookies are used by us and can be managed in the cookie settings. We need your consent before being able to use these services. Alternatively, you may click to refuse to consent, or access more detailed information and change your preferences before consenting. Your preferences will apply to this website only. You can change your preferences at any time by clearing your browser history/cache or visiting our privacy policy page.
By authorizing third-party services, you allow the placement and the reading of cookies and the use of tracking technologies required to keep our website reliable and secure.