Is aquamarine a stone?

Aquamarine, the dazzlingly blue birthstone for the month of March, has one of the most unique hues amongst precious stones. Its rich colour has long been a symbol of youthfulness, good health and hope. Aquamarine is generally paired with metals like silver or white gold when set in fine jewellery.

Is aquamarine a stone or crystal?

Aquamarine is a blue variety of Beryl that crystallizes in hexagonal columns. The blue color of this stone comes from minor traces of iron. It can commonly be found in association with Muscovite. This crystal is a very rare stone that has a long history.

Is aquamarine a rock or mineral?

Aquamarine is a form of beryl, a hard (7.5-8 on the Mohs scale), clear mineral formed from beryllium, aluminum, silica, and oxygen. Its cousin is the more rare and expensive emerald. It can form in metamorphic rocks sometimes, but it's far more commonly associated with granite.

Is aquamarine a man made stone?

Aquamarine is made up of? 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.

How expensive is aquamarine stone?

How Much is an Aquamarine 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.

Aquamarine and 5 Things You Should Know About This March Birthstone-Fun Gemstone Facts(2020)

Is aquamarine a diamond?

Aquamarines come in a range of colors from blue to greenish-blue. These are a variety of the beryl mineral, which comes in many colors but are different from natural diamonds. Though diamonds too, come in fancy colors, these are quite rare and expensive.

Is aquamarine cheaper than diamond?

For many, the biggest advantage of opting for an aquamarine engagement ring over a traditional diamond is the price tag; aquamarine is much more affordable, even in larger carat weights. The gorgeous color of aquamarine is another big advantage.

Are aquamarines rare?

Although aquamarine gemstones can be easily confused with blue topaz, aquamarine is much more rare and valuable. Aquamarine is related to emerald, since both belong to the gemstone family of Beryls.

Does aquamarine break easily?

Aquamarines also have imperfect cleavage. That means if they're struck along an internal cleavage plane they could split in two. Like most gems, aquamarines have “Brittle” tenacity. That means they're prone to breaking or chipping if struck.

What colour is the best aquamarine?

The gem's most valuable color is a dark blue to slightly greenish blue with moderately strong intensity. In general, the purer and more intense the blue color, the more valuable the stone. Most aquamarine is a light greenish blue.

Is aquamarine a type of rock?

It originated from water millions of years ago. Aquamarine is a type of beryl mineral and is formed in an igneous rock formation called a pegmatite.

Is aquamarine a quartz?

Their winter-palette hues are where their similarity ends, however—these beautiful minerals are completely different by nature. Aquamarine is a beryl, like morganite and emerald, and amethyst is a quartz, like citrine, prasiolite, smoky quartz, and rose quartz.

Why is aquamarine not a mineral?

Aquamarine is the mineral Beryl, a Beryllium Aluminum Silicate with the general chemical formula Be₃Al₂(Si₁₆O₁₈). Beryl crystallizes in the hexagonal system, it ranges in hardness from 7 1/2 to 8 on Moas scale; it has an imperfect cleavage and a vitreous luster.

Can aquamarine get wet?

Can Aquamarine get wet? Few chemicals including water will have any negative effect on Aquamarine.

Can aquamarine go in sun?

Aquamarine is a relatively hard stone, but it is quite sensitive to sunlight and extreme temperature. Summer time storage of aquamarine should be in a cool, dry setting, such as a jewelry box in an air conditioned room.

What do aquamarines symbolize?

Aquamarine Stone Symbolism

Aquamarine is often associated with serenity, tranquility, and universal harmony. Being one of the March birthstones, aquamarine embodies the transformation and rebirth of energy and the world itself. In its essence, it's connected to life in all its vitality and hope.

Is aquamarine a precious gem?

Every gemstone other than a diamond, ruby, emerald or sapphire is classified as semi-precious. Aquamarine is therefore a semi-precious stone and not a precious one.

How do I know if my aquamarine is real?

The best way to identify a real aquamarine stone is by looking at its colour. In its natural form, they have a pale blue colour, which is similar to seawater. They may have a slight green or yellow tint as well. Naturally occurring gems have excellent clarity and transparency.

Does aquamarine glow in the dark?

In 1735, the French chemist Charles François de Cisternay du Fay determined that lapis lazuli, emerald, and aquamarine were luminescent.

Is aquamarine more expensive than Amethyst?

Gemstone prices can be undoubtedly confusing. To the average Joe or Jane, it makes little sense why the same size and weight amethyst is cheaper than an aquamarine, which are both far more affordable than an emerald.

How many carats is Princess Diana's aquamarine ring?

Of course Princess Diana's aquamarine ring, featuring a 13-carat aquamarine and diamonds and finished in 14kt white gold, was made by Asprey and worth thousands.

Is aquamarine more expensive than sapphire?

While you can find sapphires and aquamarines in a wide range of price points, aquamarines are on average much more affordable than sapphires. Generally, a good quality one-carat aquamarine can sell for anywhere between $400 – $600 per carat.

Why did Princess Diana have an aquamarine ring?

Though she was only seen wearing this dramatic aquamarine ring a few times, including at an auction for Christies in 1997, Princess Diana's cocktail stunner really made an impact. It is believed to have been commissioned by the late princess to match an aquamarine and pearl bracelet in her collection.

Which is better topaz or aquamarine?

With a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale, the blue topaz outranks aquamarine, which tips the scale at 7.5-8. That said, aquamarine is a highly durable gemstone, yet susceptible to cracking if handled roughly. Blue topaz has a perfect basal cleavage, making it prone to chip and fracture when impacted.

Is aquamarine OK for an engagement ring?

Stones such as morganite, amethyst, aquamarine, and blue topaz are too soft for daily wear, especially as rings since our hands are constantly moving and tend to bump into things. Even emerald, one of the top three most precious stones in fine jewelry, is too soft and not recommended to be used as an engagement ring.