Introduction & Color
For all those lucky people born in March, you have two economical stones to choose from – Aquamarine and Bloodstone. Aquamarine is generally aqua blue in color, but also comes in other colors like green-blue and light to dark blue. The dark aqua blue is the most desirable color.
Formation and Chemical composition of Aquamarine
Aquamarine is formed when lava or magma solidifies and forms igneous rocks. Aquamarine is grown when lava slowly cools underground. Due to the thermal activity, they also form Beryl crystals.
The chemical composition of Aquamarine is Beryllium Aluminium Silicate.
History of Aquamarine
The word Aquamarine comes from the Latin word “Aqua,” meaning ‘water’, and “Marina,” meaning ‘from the sea’. Aquamarine has been adorned as jewelry for more than 3000 years by Egyptians, Greek, Romans and Sumerians. The Greeks and Romans have a belief that the gem calms the sea water, hence protecting sailors from the rough sea.
Where is Aquamarine found?
Aquamarine was first discovered in the mountains of Siberia in 1723. In 1796, the Siberian mines extracted 70,000 high quality aquamarines. In 1910, Brazil became famous for the several stones that had been uncovered in Marambaia Valley. The main stone among them was Aquamarine. This Brazilian mine created a new record of mining close to 110 kilogram of stones in just one year. The Minas Gerais in Brazil completed 300 years in 2019, and till date it actively produces Aquamarine gemstones.
Other countries where aquamarine is found are as follows: Kenya, Nigeria, Madagascar in Africa, Colombia, Zambia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia, Australia, and Colorado in the United States.
Aquamarine Species and Varieties
The Aquamarine species is part of the Beryl group or Beryl family due to the same chemical composition they share. The Beryl family consists of several colored gemstones like emerald, morganite, trapiche emerald, helidor to name a few. But the Aquamarine is seperated from the rest due to its beautiful aqua blue color, which is caused by the element Iron.
Astrological Beliefs related to Aquamarine: The March Birthstone
Traditionally in Greek and Rome, it is believed that aquamarine protects sailors from the sea. It also helps with sea sickness. Their vessels are decorated with aquamarine to protect it from sinking.
As it works to calm the sea, it is also believed to calm the storms that arise in marriage every now and then. Aquamarine stones helps us in relaxing, and hence is used in spiritual meditation. It is also believed to be a clean and pure stone that protects us from all evil and negative energies. It is also a stone gifted for 19th wedding anniversaries.
Aquamarine represents the moon. The stone is suggested to those whose star sign is Pisces.
Healing Benefits of Aquamarine
Aquamarine is believed to calm your mind, hence reducing stress and anxiety. It is also supposed to boost logic and intelligence. Aquamarine improves relations between people, including professional and personal relations.
Aquamarine is believed to boost your immune system, prevents thyroid and heals a sore throat. Pregnant women wear this stone to protect the child in the womb from diseases related to the liver and stomach.
The above are beliefs among various communities. These are not in any way our opinion or beliefs.
Demand and Scope
There’s an increase in the demand of this March birthstone, Aquamarine, due to its availability in large sizes and its property of being a crystal clear stone with a dark color, which is generally adorned in fine jewellery. Due to its economical pricing, it is used in imitation jewelry and in fashion jewellery.
Durability of Aquamarine
Aquamarine has the higher hardness of about 7.5, hence it does not get scratched as easily. It is also well known for its toughness.
Famous Aquamarines
1. Dom Pedro Aquamarine:
Named after the first two Emperors of Brazil – Pedro I and Pedro II. The world’s largest faceted aquamarine weighs 10,363 carats, which was found in Minas Gerais, Brazil in 1980. The original rough weighs approximately 45 kilograms.
2. Most Precious Aquamarine: A rectangular shaped aquamarine was called the “Most Precious” stone in 1963, and was donated to The Smithsonian Museum by Evyan Perfumes Inc. This stone was also mined from Brazil.
3. The Roosevelt Aquamarine:
This Aquamarine was owned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936, and was gifted to him by the Brazilian President Getúlio Vargas. The stone weighs almost 1.3 kilograms in its rough state and 865 carats in its polished state, becoming the second largest aquamarine to exist. It was later sold to the Indian Maharaja Jagatjit Singh, the Maharaja of Kaputhala. In 1947, it was donated to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library in Hyde Park, New York.
4. Queen Elizabeth Aquamarine:
In 1953, the Brazilian president, Getúlio Vargas gifted the aquamarine to UK’s Queen Elizabeth II, which she later commissioned into a tiara from Garrand to match her aquamarine necklace and earrings.
Identification of Aquamarine
Aquamarine can be identified from its simulants like Blue topaz, tourmaline, zircon, glass to name a few. There are several techniques to identify aquamarine like study of inclusions, physical and optical properties, using instruments and techniques etc.
You can also identify Aquamarine without using any instruments. Want to know how? Check out our Gemology Graduate course at J K Diamonds Institute of Gems & Jewelry® for a practical experience.
Treatments in Aquamarine
The primary treatment done on aquamarine is Heat and Irradiation treatment in order to improve its color. It’s a common practise to make the color darker since dark blue aquamarines command a higher price.
To learn more about the process of treatments and its identification, please click the link below.
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Pricing
Aquamarines are available in large sizes and quantities and are quite economical. To learning more about qualities and pricing online or offline click the link below.
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