Judging quality
Look for transparency and even blue; most rough is heat-treated to remove green tones, which is standard practice. Sharp prism faces and undamaged terminations matter most in specimens.
Beryl
Aquamarine
Blue beryl, colored by iron, and the same mineral species as emerald and morganite. Crystals grow as long hexagonal prisms with flat terminations and can reach enormous size.
Care
Hard and durable but can chip on the edges. Warm soapy water is safe.
History & lore
The Marta Rocha crystal found in Brazil in 1954 weighed over thirty kilos and remains one of the great gem finds of the century.
Cultural history, recorded as tradition rather than as medical or scientific claim.
Common questions about Aquamarine
- What is Aquamarine?
- Blue beryl, colored by iron, and the same mineral species as emerald and morganite. Crystals grow as long hexagonal prisms with flat terminations and can reach enormous size.
- How hard is Aquamarine and what is it made of?
- Aquamarine is a Beryl-family mineral with the composition Be3Al2Si6O18. It crystallizes in the hexagonal system and rates 7.5-8 on the Mohs hardness scale. It occurs in blue, blue-green.
- Where does Aquamarine come from?
- Notable localities for Aquamarine include Brazil, Pakistan, Nigeria, Madagascar.
- How do you tell good Aquamarine from filler?
- Look for transparency and even blue; most rough is heat-treated to remove green tones, which is standard practice. Sharp prism faces and undamaged terminations matter most in specimens.
- How do you care for Aquamarine?
- Hard and durable but can chip on the edges. Warm soapy water is safe.
Related stones
See it in person
Photographs only go so far
Both rooms are open six days a week, and there is always someone happy to pull pieces out of the case so you can compare them under the light.