Aquamarine refers to beryl that is pale blue, light blue-green, or even light green. It is usually clear, but iron content gives it its blue/green color. The green of aquamarine is a watery green without any traces of yellow. In the past, the most valued aquamarine stones were green.
What is a natural aquamarine?
Aquamarine Basics: All aquamarine, both natural and synthetic, is a variety of beryl. This is a naturally-occurring ore of the element beryllium, more properly called beryllium aluminum silicate. When geological conditions are right, this mixture forms beautiful hexagonal crystals that are blue in color.
Is aquamarine a real stone?
Aquamarine is the soft pale blue variety of the Beryl family of gemstones, which also includes Morganite, Goshenite, Yellow Beryl and Emerald. ... Known as the gem of the sea, even the name 'Aquamarine' comes from the Latin 'aqua' for 'water' and 'marina' for 'of the sea'.Mar 1, 2020
Is aquamarine an expensive stone?
Fine aquamarine is rare and expensive. Large gems with intense color that are selling for less than $100 are unlikely to be aquamarine.
How can you tell a quality aquamarine?
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.
How do you grade an aquamarine stone?
Aquamarine is composed of the mineral beryl, and scores a 1.577-1.583 on the refractive scale and a 7.5-8.0 on the Mohs hardness scale. These factors make the stone durable, easy to care for, and a great addition to your jewelry collection.
How much is my aquamarine stone worth?
Prospective buyers can consult an aquamarine value chart to ascertain aquamarine gem value. As a rough guide, a 1-carat aquamarine would cost approximately $675 per carat and a 2-3 carat aquamarine would be around $1,000 to $1,500 per carat.
Can you see through a real aquamarine?
Naturally occurring gems have excellent clarity and transparency. The hardness of the stone is another feature you can use to identify the stone. Aquamarine stones are hard and they don't get scratches easily. However, they can easily scratch glass and other such surfaces.
What is my aquamarine worth?
Low quality to mid-range aquamarines can range from $5 to $100 per carat. Past 10 carats, mid-range aquamarines can cost between $150 and $200 per carat. High quality aquamarines are much more expensive.