AQUAMARINE - THE GEM OF THE SEA

Just hearing the word Aquamarine will have you immediately thinking of clear blue, peaceful waters or even a breathtaking pastel blue sky. Since this gemstone is the color of water and the sky, both seemingly endless bodies, it is said to embody eternal life. For centuries, this timeless gemstone has been a symbol of youth, hope, health and fidelity. The Aquamarine is believed to have a soothing influence on married couples. We at Angelucci Jewelry highly recommend making it a great anniversary gift.

Aquamarines are found in a range of blues, most often light in tone from a pale pastel to a greenish-blue to a rarely a deep blue color. Darker shades of blue are increasingly rare and hence, greater in value. Aquamarine is usually a pastel gemstone. While the color can be more intense in larger gemstones, smaller aquamarines tend to be less vivid.

Not only is the aquamarine one of the March birthstones, it’s also used to celebrate 19th wedding anniversaries. It is a beautiful gemstone with little to no yellow in it, so it looks beautiful in many settings with different colored metals and gemstones.

Sources of Aquamarine

Like emeralds, this gemstone is a variety of a mineral called beryl. Large gemstones have been found all over the world. It is mainly mined in Brazil. The Brazilian state of Minas Gerais has been an important source of aquamarine for the past two centuries, but it is also found in Nigeria, Madagascar, Mozambique, Pakistan as well as elsewhere in Africa. Sources in the United States include the Mount Antero area of Colorado, making Aquamarine its state gem. The gem is also found at California’s Riverside and San Diego. Aquamarines are found in primary and secondary pegmatite deposits.

A quick fun fact: one gemstone found in Brazil weighed over 240 pounds! Aquamarine grows in large, six-sided crystals that can be up to a foot long. This makes it a great gemstone to be cut and polished in larger carats for bold statement jewelry pieces.

Aquamarine as a shield and blessing.

Back in the olden times, it was said that Roman fishermen called the gemstone “water of the sea” and used it as protection, for safe travel by boat, and for luck in catching fish. It's also said Roman physicians used it to treat overeating and bloating. Ancient mariners claimed the gem would calm waves and keep sailors safe at sea. It was also thought to make the wearer not only unconquerable and amiable, but to also quicken the intellect. 

The Sumerians, Egyptians, Hebrews, and Greeks all admired aquamarine gemstones. Beads were discovered with Egyptian mummies. And it was believed that the High Priest of the Second Temple wore aquamarine stones engraved with the six tribes of Israel. Two thousand years ago, people in Greece engraved designs into aquamarine stones, turning them into intaglios.

Famous people and the Aquamarine

The government of Brazil gave First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in 1936 a stunningly dark blue rectangular step cut aquamarine weighing 1,298 carats. It was the larger of two stones faceted from a piece of aquamarine rough that, in itself weighed an impressive 2.9 pounds. It is currently housed at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, New York. 

A celebrated attraction can be found at the Smithsonian Institution. A 10,363 CT, Dom Pedro Aquamarine. This gem is believed to be the largest faceted aquamarine in the world. The approximately 14-inch high obelisk was fashioned by acclaimed German lapidary Berndt Munsteiner, using the fantasy cut technique.

Aquamarine Care and Cleaning

This March birthstone is durable enough for everyday wear. It has a hardness of 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale making, caring for the gem easy. Simply use warm water, mild dish soap and a toothbrush to scrub behind the birthstone where dirt may collect. Ultrasonic cleaners and steam cleaning are usually safe options as long as there are no fractures or liquid inclusions in the gem.

Aquamarine can be used as a gemstone for any kind of jewelry you want to wear, be it rings, earrings, a pendant for your necklace, bracelet, anklet, you name it! We here at Angelucci Jewelry will always be eager to help you with your jewelry needs! Have some questions? Visit our page and let us know your concerns. You can also try out our custom ring builder. And don’t forget to check out our other educational content as well!