A transparent blue-green variety of beryl, used as a gemstone.
Aquamarine is emerald's most famous sister. It is
simply a different color variety of the mineral beryl. Greenish-blue to
bluish-green beryl is called aquamarine. The advances of modern
technology have made it possible, and very common, for aquamarine to be
heat-treated to drive the green out of the stone and leave a more
pleasing blue. This is a permanent treatment and has become accepted in
the jewelry industry.
Aquamarine has been credited with providing
courage, curing laziness and quickening the intellect. In the Middle
Ages it was believed to give the wearer both insight and foresight and
freedom from insomnia. Among various peoples, it had the reputation of
providing happiness and everlasting youth. Water in which an aquamarine
had been soaked was believed to cure eye troubles, stoppage of breath
and hiccups.
Aquamarine is one of the few gemstones that looks
beautiful with both white and yellow gold or platinum: Yellow gold adds
a warm touch to the piece of jewelry; white gold or platinum
accentuates the coolness of the gem's color.
Aquamarines are set in women's and children's
jewelry of all kinds. They are cut in a variety of shapes and sizes for
use in rings, earrings, pendants, pins and bracelets. They were a
favorite gem for use in the parures (matched sets) of the 1820's and
are still striking for similar modern use.
Comparing emerald and aquamarine, the latter is
the tougher sister. Aqua is usually free from the inclusions that make
emerald more fragile. It is often step-cut (emerald-cut) to show its
color to best advantage.
It occurs at most localities which yield ordinary
beryl, some of the finest coming from Russia. The gem-gravel placer
deposits of Sri Lanka contain aquamarine. Clear yellow beryl, such as
occurs in Brazil, is sometimes called aquamarine chrysolite. When
corundum presents the bluish tint of typical aquamarine, it is often
termed Oriental aquamarine. The biggest aquamarine ever mined was found
at the city of Marambaia, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 1910. It weighed
over 110 kg, and its dimensions were 48.5 cm long and 42 cm in
diameter. Aquamarine is the official state gem of Colorado.
Aquamarine Care:
Aquamarine needs to be cleaned often to keep its
brilliant sparkle. A thorough, soft brush scrubbing with a commercial
jewelry cleaner or liquid detergent and water is sufficient if done
after every three or four wearings.
