So, March has arrived and we’re looking at another birthstone. How much do you know about Aquamarine?
Name
The name, Aquamarine is derived from the Latin words meaning water and sea. After all the colour of the stone is blue-green.
Heat Treatment
Many Aquamarine stones are treated with heat because this helps to bring its colour to a more vibrant blue. The colour is then permanent, and it doesn’t harm or damage the structure of the stone. You can tell if they have been treated because it will be clearly marked, and they are often lower in price than stones that have the natural hue.
Myths
It is believed by many sailors that Aquamarine will help to protect them while at sea and has the power to get them safely back home. In addition to this, many people believe in natural healing powers of crystals, they use the stone to help reduce symptoms of stress.
Properties
It is a semi-precious gem and is a member of the beryl family, this includes Emerald and Morganite. Gemstones are graded using the same system for diamonds – by colour, cut, clarity and carat weight.
Location
Most valuable Aquamarine stones are mined from Columbia, Brazil, Kenya, Zambia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Russia, Tanzania, Nigeria and Madagascar.
Largest Gem
The largest Aquamarine stone ever found was mined in Brazil in 1910 in the village of Minas Gerais. It was a 243-pound stone which was cut into more than 100,000 carats of finished gemstones!
Now you know more about March’s birthstone, pop into store for a free consultation to talk about creating your own bespoke piece of jewellery including it or contact us here.