Aquamarine - Atlanta Diamond Design

Awesome Aquamarine
14k white gold pendant with a round
aquamarine & melee diamonds on a
dainty chain for $500 at Atlanta
Diamond Design, Johns Creek
Aquamarine is one of the most popular and well-known gems. The name
comes from the Latin aqua marina, meaning “water of the sea,” referring to the
stone's delightful blue to turquoise color for which it is so popular. Aquamarine is a type of Beryl, a mineral composed of beryllium aluminum silicate. The
English word for brilliance can be traced back to beryl's etymology, which
goes back to Dravidian origin in southern Asia. Pure beryl is colorless. Often,
the stone is found tinted with impurities. The blue color of aquamarine is
created by traces of iron. Green beryl is called emerald, yellow is heliador, red
is red emerald, and pink is morganite.
Most aquamarine has a very light tone, but the more saturated the color, the higher the value. Blue aquamarine
fetches a higher price than turquoise ones. Very deep blue aquamarine is called Maxixe, and commonly comes from
Madagascar. Because aquamarine is generally very clean, high quality stones should be expected to be clean at
least to the naked eye. Small inclusions are considered acceptable if the color is quite good. But most aquamarines
are almost completely clean, even under a jeweler's loupe (10x magnification).
Some aquamarine features aligned traces of foreign minerals,
causing a cat's eye or star (asterism) effect. These pieces command premium prices. Large aquamarines are not uncommon,
but top grade stones of good color are rare and pretty expensive
in sizes over 10 carats. Still, the price is quite attractive, at
$150-$200 per carat. Favored cuts are emerald and brilliant, in
long or rectangular shapes. Most aquamarines have been
heat-treated to produce the popular blue-green color from
less-desirable yellow or pale stones. The heating treatment is
usually undetectable, since the temperatures used are low
enough not to affect internal structures. Brazil is the leading
The largest single cut of aquamarine is the “Don Pedro.”
producer of aquamarine, although the stone is found all over
This specimen is on display at the Smithsonian National
the world, including several US locations. The largest gem-qualiMuseum of Natural History. The original crystal weighed
100 pounds, measured over 3 feet in length. It was also
ty aquamarine was found in 1910 in Marambaia, Minas Gerais,
mined in Minas Gerais, Brazil in 1980. The piece was cut to
Brazil. The stone weighed 243 pounds, was 19” long and 17” in
an obelisk with a weight of 10,363 carats, is 14” tall, 4” wide.
diameter. The piece was cut into many gems, with a total weight
of over 100,000 carats.
Mythology tells that aquamarine originated in the treasure chest of mermaids, and has been regarded since ancient
times as the lucky stone of sailors. In antiquity and the Middle Ages, people believed the the cosmos was reflected
in the gemstone, and aquamarine was assigned to the planet Neptune. The stone is said to help with arthritis, eye
inflammation, sore throat, and varicose veins. It is also said to promise a happy marriage and to bring joy and
wealth to the woman who wears it.
Sterling silver and
rough aquamarine
pendant with
chain by Roost
Jewelry, available
at Atlanta
Diamond Design,
Cumming
for just $147
This aquamarine and diamond tiara
belonged to Queen Victoria Eugenia of
Spain, but it didn’t actually become an
aquamarine tiara until her youngest
grandchild inherited the piece and switched
out the original pearl drops.
Three lovely
aquamarine
briolets dangle
from each of
these lovely 14k
white gold
earrings,
available at
Atlanta Diamond
Design, Johns
Creek for $750