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Aquamarine
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Aquamarine is a type of beryl, which makes it a close cousin of the emerald. Unlike emeralds, though, aquamarines are relatively common and typically clearer than emeralds, with fewer inclusions or cracks.
Like other silicates, aquamarine is...
Aquamarine is a type of beryl, which makes it a close cousin of the emerald. Unlike emeralds, though, aquamarines are relatively common and typically clearer than emeralds, with fewer inclusions or cracks.
Like other silicates, aquamarine is mostly made up of silicon and oxygen, and the finest of these hexagonal blue crystals are formed via slow-cooling igneous rocks known as pegmatites. Some natural aquamarine crystals are more than a foot in length, with the largest on record, at 19 inches in length and weighing 244 pounds, found in Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 1910. Imitation aquamarine is made out of synthetic spinel.
Historically, aquamarine was favored among beryl stones for its clarity and durability. In the 17th century, aquamarine rings were used for fortune telling and was believed to bring good luck for those traveling over water.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, sea green was the favored color for aquamarine—hence its name, which means “sea water” in Latin—but sky blue and dark blue have since replaced green as the most valuable colors. However, aquamarine is dichroic, meaning the stone’s color changes when viewed from different angles, thus it is typically cut to feature the most intense shade.
Dark-blue varieties are found in Nigeria and Madagascar, while the best pale-blue examples come from Mozambique, Afghanistan, and especially Brazil. In the United States, aquamarine is mined in Wyoming and Colorado, but it has been found in just about all 50 states. Natural aquamarine is often heat treated to darken the color from sky blue to dark blue, but if overheated, the gem can lose all its color.
Though sometimes compared with blue topaz, similar-quality stones of aquamarine sell at a much higher price. Though aquamarines can be cut into any shape, popular styles include emerald cuts and round or oval brilliants. Stones with visible inclusions are typically used for cabochons, beads, or artistic carvings.
Aquamarine is an alternate birthstone for the month of March, and is said to bring its superior clarity to physical or emotional problems such as sight issues, disorientation, and personal expression. The gemstone also supposedly improves the immune system, helps with skeletal maladies, and gives the wearer increased sensitivity and awareness.
Continue readingAquamarine is a type of beryl, which makes it a close cousin of the emerald. Unlike emeralds, though, aquamarines are relatively common and typically clearer than emeralds, with fewer inclusions or cracks.
Like other silicates, aquamarine is mostly made up of silicon and oxygen, and the finest of these hexagonal blue crystals are formed via slow-cooling igneous rocks known as pegmatites. Some natural aquamarine crystals are more than a foot in length, with the largest on record, at 19 inches in length and weighing 244 pounds, found in Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 1910. Imitation aquamarine is made out of synthetic spinel.
Historically, aquamarine was favored among beryl stones for its clarity and durability. In the 17th century, aquamarine rings were used for fortune telling and was believed to bring good luck for those traveling over water.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, sea green was the favored color for aquamarine—hence its name, which means “sea water” in Latin—but sky blue and dark blue have since replaced green as the most valuable colors. However, aquamarine is dichroic, meaning the stone’s color changes when viewed from different angles, thus it is typically cut to feature the most intense shade.
Dark-blue varieties are found in Nigeria and Madagascar, while the best pale-blue examples come from Mozambique, Afghanistan, and especially Brazil. In the United States, aquamarine is mined in Wyoming and Colorado, but it has been found in just about all 50 states. Natural aquamarine is often heat treated to darken the color from sky blue to dark blue, but if overheated, the gem can lose all its color.
Though sometimes compared with blue topaz, similar-quality stones of aquamarine sell at a much higher price. Though aquamarines can be cut into any shape, popular styles include emerald cuts and round or oval brilliants. Stones with visible inclusions are typically used for cabochons, beads, or artistic carvings.
Aquamarine is an...
Aquamarine is a type of beryl, which makes it a close cousin of the emerald. Unlike emeralds, though, aquamarines are relatively common and typically clearer than emeralds, with fewer inclusions or cracks.
Like other silicates, aquamarine is mostly made up of silicon and oxygen, and the finest of these hexagonal blue crystals are formed via slow-cooling igneous rocks known as pegmatites. Some natural aquamarine crystals are more than a foot in length, with the largest on record, at 19 inches in length and weighing 244 pounds, found in Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 1910. Imitation aquamarine is made out of synthetic spinel.
Historically, aquamarine was favored among beryl stones for its clarity and durability. In the 17th century, aquamarine rings were used for fortune telling and was believed to bring good luck for those traveling over water.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, sea green was the favored color for aquamarine—hence its name, which means “sea water” in Latin—but sky blue and dark blue have since replaced green as the most valuable colors. However, aquamarine is dichroic, meaning the stone’s color changes when viewed from different angles, thus it is typically cut to feature the most intense shade.
Dark-blue varieties are found in Nigeria and Madagascar, while the best pale-blue examples come from Mozambique, Afghanistan, and especially Brazil. In the United States, aquamarine is mined in Wyoming and Colorado, but it has been found in just about all 50 states. Natural aquamarine is often heat treated to darken the color from sky blue to dark blue, but if overheated, the gem can lose all its color.
Though sometimes compared with blue topaz, similar-quality stones of aquamarine sell at a much higher price. Though aquamarines can be cut into any shape, popular styles include emerald cuts and round or oval brilliants. Stones with visible inclusions are typically used for cabochons, beads, or artistic carvings.
Aquamarine is an alternate birthstone for the month of March, and is said to bring its superior clarity to physical or emotional problems such as sight issues, disorientation, and personal expression. The gemstone also supposedly improves the immune system, helps with skeletal maladies, and gives the wearer increased sensitivity and awareness.
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