March – AQUAMARINE
| CHEMICAL COMPOSITION | Be3Al2SiO6O18 |
|---|---|
| CUBIC CRYSTAL SYSTEM | |
| REFRACTIVE INDEX | 1.577-1.583 (+.017, -.017) |
| HARDNESS | |
| SPECIFIC GRAVITY | 2.72 (+.18 ,-.05) |
| DISPERSION | 0.014 |
| CLEAVAGE | Very difficult in one direction, almost never seen |
| GIA GRADING |
Additional Information
Aquamarines appear in a beautiful array of light blue colors. Its delicate colors arouse feelings of sympathy, trust, harmony and friendship. Aquamarine are said to bring about a happy marriage and joy and wealth to the wearer. According to legend the aquamarine originated in the treasure chest of beautiful mermaids, and has, since ancient times, been regarded as the sailors' lucky stone.
The various color nuances of aquamarine have melodious names: the rare, intense blue aquamarines from the Santa Maria de Itabira mine in Brazil are called 'Santa Maria'. Similar nuances come from a few gemstone mines in Africa, particularly Mozambique. To help distinguish them from the Brazilian ones, these aquamarines have been given the name 'Santa Maria Africana'. The 'Espirito Santo' color of aquamarines from the Brazil is a lighter blue. Whether it is fashioned as a transparent gem in the classical step cut, or creatively cut in a more modern design, it is beautiful.
Aquamarine, from Latin aqua marina which means water of the sea, is a blue or turquoise variety of beryl. Some of the finest Aquamarines come from Russia. Other well-known beryls include Emerald (green) and Morganite (Pink). Beryls can also come in red, gold, yellow, and colorless varieties.
Aquamarines of the best quality are clear, transparent gems. Some gems can carry inclusions of long, hollow rods, a trademark of the beryl family. The favored cuts are emerald (step) and brilliant cut with long or rectangular shapes. Turbid stones get a cabochon cut. Most aquamarines have been heat treated to produce the popular blue-green colors from less desirable yellow or pale stones. Lower quality stones are heated to 725-850 degrees F (400-450 degrees C) in order to change the color in favor of the desired, permanent aquamarine blue. Higher temperatures would result in discoloration. There have been huge finds of aquamarine with the weight of several tons that didn't qualify for cutting due to the weak, gray or opaque color. The largest find of aquamarine in gemstone quality dates back to 1910. The "Minas Gerais" in Marambaya, Brazil mined a stone of 243 lb (110.5 kg), 18 inch (48.5 cm) long and 15.5 inch in diameter that was cut in many gems of a total weight of more than 100,000 ct. The 'Dom Pedro', weighing 26 kg and cut in Idar-Oberstein/Germany in 1992 by the gemstone designer Bernd Munsteiner, made it the largest aquamarine ever to have been cut.
Appearance:
Misnomers:: none known
Typical Size Range:: 1 – 20 ct faceted stones over 1000 ct are known
Typical Cutting Styles: : faceted, cabochons, beads, carvings
Cleaning Methods:
References
Gemological Institute of America, GIA Gem Reference Guide 1995, ISBN 0-87311-019-6
GIA. (n.d.). GIA Grading and Reports. Retrieved July 29, 2011, from Gemological Institute of America:
http://gia4cs.gia.edu/cm/grading-reports.htm
ICGA. (n.d.). All About Gems. Retrieved July 30, 2011, from International Colored Gemstone Association:
http://www.gemstone.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=1&Itemid=69
IGS. (n.d.). IGS Reference Library. Retrieved July 29, 2011, from Internatonal Gem Society:
http://www.gemsociety.org/info/info.htm
The various color nuances of aquamarine have melodious names: the rare, intense blue aquamarines from the Santa Maria de Itabira mine in Brazil are called 'Santa Maria'. Similar nuances come from a few gemstone mines in Africa, particularly Mozambique. To help distinguish them from the Brazilian ones, these aquamarines have been given the name 'Santa Maria Africana'. The 'Espirito Santo' color of aquamarines from the Brazil is a lighter blue. Whether it is fashioned as a transparent gem in the classical step cut, or creatively cut in a more modern design, it is beautiful.
Aquamarine, from Latin aqua marina which means water of the sea, is a blue or turquoise variety of beryl. Some of the finest Aquamarines come from Russia. Other well-known beryls include Emerald (green) and Morganite (Pink). Beryls can also come in red, gold, yellow, and colorless varieties.
Aquamarines of the best quality are clear, transparent gems. Some gems can carry inclusions of long, hollow rods, a trademark of the beryl family. The favored cuts are emerald (step) and brilliant cut with long or rectangular shapes. Turbid stones get a cabochon cut. Most aquamarines have been heat treated to produce the popular blue-green colors from less desirable yellow or pale stones. Lower quality stones are heated to 725-850 degrees F (400-450 degrees C) in order to change the color in favor of the desired, permanent aquamarine blue. Higher temperatures would result in discoloration. There have been huge finds of aquamarine with the weight of several tons that didn't qualify for cutting due to the weak, gray or opaque color. The largest find of aquamarine in gemstone quality dates back to 1910. The "Minas Gerais" in Marambaya, Brazil mined a stone of 243 lb (110.5 kg), 18 inch (48.5 cm) long and 15.5 inch in diameter that was cut in many gems of a total weight of more than 100,000 ct. The 'Dom Pedro', weighing 26 kg and cut in Idar-Oberstein/Germany in 1992 by the gemstone designer Bernd Munsteiner, made it the largest aquamarine ever to have been cut.
Appearance:
- Greenish blue to blue-green; generally light in tone
- Transparent; if highly included, may be translucent
- Phenomena: Chatoyancy (rare and usually weak)
Misnomers:: none known
Typical Size Range:: 1 – 20 ct faceted stones over 1000 ct are known
Typical Cutting Styles: : faceted, cabochons, beads, carvings
Cleaning Methods:
- Ultrasonic: usually safe, unless stone includes feathers or liquid inclusions
- Steamer: usually safe, unless stone contains feathers or liquid inclusions
- Warm soapy water: safe
References
Gemological Institute of America, GIA Gem Reference Guide 1995, ISBN 0-87311-019-6
GIA. (n.d.). GIA Grading and Reports. Retrieved July 29, 2011, from Gemological Institute of America:
http://gia4cs.gia.edu/cm/grading-reports.htm
ICGA. (n.d.). All About Gems. Retrieved July 30, 2011, from International Colored Gemstone Association:
http://www.gemstone.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=1&Itemid=69
IGS. (n.d.). IGS Reference Library. Retrieved July 29, 2011, from Internatonal Gem Society:
http://www.gemsociety.org/info/info.htm
