Does aquamarine need to be heat treated?
Magic! The heated half now had that blue aquamarine color most people recognize. The stone was heated at 400 ° C for an hour or so. The color change was fairly dramatic. However, note that the blue color is no more saturated than the original blueish green color of the natural crystal.
Can aquamarine be synthesized?
Synthetic aquamarine (lab-grown aquamarine) has been produced by hydrothermal growth methods in Russia since at least the 1980s [4] and since the early 2000s in the Czech Republic [5]. Some synthetic aquamarine receives its color from iron, like natural aquamarine.
What is aquamarine used for?
Does aquamarine turn blue when it comes out?
Is aquamarine hard?
Durability: Aquamarine has a Mohs hardness of 7.5 to 8, making it one of the harder gemstones. Diamond, ruby, sapphire, topaz, and chrysoberyl are the only popular gemstones that are significantly harder. Hardness is a property that enables a gem to resist scratching.
What is aquamarine color?
Aquamarine is the name used for gem-quality specimens of the mineral beryl within a color range of greenish blue to blue. The name is used regardless of a stone's tone or saturation. So, aquamarines can range from a very light, almost imperceptible color to stones with a rich vibrant color. Most aquamarine has a very light color, which can be ...
Is aquamarine a blue stone?
Aquamarine is best known as a highly transparent blue stone. Unlike emerald, the deep green variety of beryl, high-clarity, fracture-free aquamarine is abundant and more affordable. High-clarity, fracture-free stones are also more attractive and less likely to be damaged during wear.
What is the hardness of aquamarine?
If you are interested in purchasing an item of aquamarine jewelry, here are a few things to consider: Durability: Aquamarine has a Mohs hardness of 7.5 to 8 , making it one of the harder gemstones. Diamond, ruby, sapphire, topaz, and chrysoberyl are the only popular gemstones that are significantly harder.
What is the chemical composition of aquamarine?
As a member of the beryl mineral family, aquamarine has a chemical composition of Be 3 Al 2 Si 6 O 18. Pure beryl is colorless. The greenish blue to blue color of aquamarine is caused by trace amounts of iron. The iron can occur in two oxidation states.
Where do aquamarine crystals form?
Most gem-quality aquamarine crystals form in cavities below Earth's surface during the late stages of a magma body's crystallization. The cavities provide open space for crystals to grow. The slow underground cooling rate provides the time needed for the development of large crystals. And, the late-stage timing provides the fluids and a supply of the beryllium needed to form beryl, a beryllium mineral.
What is the birthstone of March?
March Birthstone: Aquamarine serves as a birthstone for the month of March. A few months give people a choice of more than one birthstone and March is one of those months. People born in March can select a faceted aquamarine or they can select a cabochon-cut bloodstone.
Is an aquamarine rare?
Star aquamarines are even more rare than cat’s eyes and can command premium prices.
What is the color of aquamarine?
Named after the color of sea water, aquamarine is the blue to blue-green member of the beryl family. Readily available and moderately priced, the modern March birthstone makes an excellent jewelry stone.
What is Santa Maria aquamarine?
Also called halbanite. Santa Maria aquamarine: medium-dark tone and highly saturated blue color. Don’t assume aquamarines billed as “Brazilian” or “Madagascar” actually come from these sources. These terms may only refer to the color, so ask to see documentation to certify a gem’s origin.
What gemstones are heat treated?
A methyst, citrine, ametrine, aquamarine, tourmaline, topaz, light green tourmaline, sapphire, ruby, tanzanite, and blue zircon are gemstones that are typically color-enhanced by heat treatment.
Can heat change gemstones?
High heat, such as that from a charcoal fire, can make a bland looking gemstone change its color into something spectacular. If this fortunate technique was not discovered, there would be very few affordable gemstones of good color on the market.
What color is amethyst?
Amethyst - lightens the color and will change the color of pale amethyst to "yellow" that will be sold as citrine. Aquamarine - removes the greenish undertones that are common in this stone to produce a more blue stone. Also deepens the color. Citrine - often produced by heating varieties of quartz.
What color is Morganite?
Morganite - heat treatment changes the color from orange to pinkish. •. Ruby - heat treatment improves color, removes iron stains, dissolves inclusions and fills tiny cracks. •. Sapphire - to lighten or intensify color and to improve the uniformity of the color. •. Tanzanite - to produce a more desirable blue shade. •.
Why is ruby red?
Ruby is heated almost to its melting point, allowing the aluminum oxide in the stone to reform, creating a new crystal structure. This allows the chromium in the stone to combine with different atoms, allowing for a better red hue. The same can apply to a type of sapphire known as gouda sapphire.
Why is aquamarine blue?
Aquamarine’s characteristic pale blue color is created by the presence of iron. Likewise, all members of the Beryl family obtain their colors because of the presence of metallic elements, ...
Where is aquamarine found?
The gem exhibits a hexagonal crystal system. Aquamarine is mostly found and mined in Brazil and countries that fall along the Mozambique geological belt in Africa, though there are other sources. Darker shades of Aquamarine tend to be cloudier, whereas cleaner stones are often very light in hue.
What is the name of the blue gemstone?
One of the most popular blue gemstones, Aquamarine is steeped in myth and legend. Known as the gem of the sea, even the name ‘Aquamarine’ comes from the Latin ‘aqua’ for ‘water’ and ‘marina’ for ‘of the sea’. Aquamarine can have wonderful clarity, meaning that it dazzles with a bright, energetic sparkle.
What is the meaning of the word "aquamarine"?
Known as the gem of the sea, even the name ‘Aquamarine’ comes from the Latin ‘aqua’ for ‘water’ and ‘marina’ for ‘of the sea’ . Aquamarine can have wonderful clarity, meaning that it dazzles with a bright, energetic sparkle.
Why is aquamarine used in jewelry?
Used in jewelry since at least 500 BC, its tropical ocean blue tones effortlessly invoke images of landless skies and the waters below. Once believed to be the treasure of mermaids, it was often worn by sailors and travelers as a talisman to protect against being shipwrecked and to ward off sea sickness. Pliny the Elder (23 AD - 79 AD) said of the gem, "The lovely Aquamarine, which seems to have come from some mermaid's treasure house, in the depths of the summer sea, has charms not to be denied".
Is aquamarine a gem?
But as recently as the 19th century it was the sea green colored stones that were sought after by the worlds collectors. Aquamarine is a real favorite of many gem collectors.
What color is aquamarine?
Aquamarine receives its color from the presence of two different types of iron: ferrous and ferric. Ferrous iron provides the gem with its trademark blue color, whilst the presence of ferric iron turns the gem slightly green. Normally in its rough state, when it is mined, Aquamarine is more of a greenish blue.
Who designed the aquamarine ring?
The ring is an original, copyrighted design by Zoltan David. - Robert Weldon, courtesy of Nancy's Collection. In the commercial market, aquamarine competes with treated blue topaz for attention, but fine aquamarine sells for far more than equivalent-quality treated blue topaz.
Is aquamarine crystal clear?
Clarity. Most faceted aquamarines are eye-clean. Some crystals might contain liquid inclusions, but clarity characteristics are few or absent in most finished gems. Stones with eye-visible inclusions are usually fashioned into cabochons, beads, or carvings. Carvings are popular for translucent to opaque aquamarine.
What is the most valuable color of 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.
Can aquamarine be cut?
Aquamarines can be cut into almost any shape, but cutters often fashion them as emerald cuts or as round or oval brilliants. The rough is fairly plentiful, so well-cut stones are fairly common. The gemstone’s hardness and transparency make it popular with designers, artists, and carvers.
How much does an aquamarine weigh?
Carat Weight. Aquamarine crystals come in sizes from very small to very large—some even up to 100 lbs. (45 kg). While large stones are readily available, it’s difficult to use them in jewelry, so there’s less demand for them, except as center stones.
How big is an aquamarine crystal?
Aquamarine crystals come in sizes from very small to very large—some even up to 100 lbs. (45 kg). While large stones are readily available, it’s difficult to use them in jewelry, so there’s less demand for them, except as center stones. As a result, per-carat prices tend to decrease for sizes above 25 carats.
What is an emerald cut?
Emerald cuts are among the common aquamarine cutting styles. - Courtesy ICA. The gem is pleochroic, which means it shows different colors in different crystal directions—in the case of aquamarine, they’re near-colorless and strong blue.
What is aquamarine?
Aquamarine is the green-blue to blue variety of the mineral beryl.
What is aquamarine crystal?
An aquamarine crystal in its natural state shows why these specimens are prized for their beauty. - Courtesy Daniel Trinchillo, Fine Minerals International. Aquamarine is the green-blue to blue variety of the mineral beryl. (Emerald is the green to bluish green variety of the same mineral.) Its color is usually a light pastel greenish blue.
What is aquamarine made of?
Aquamarine is a gorgeous blue variety of beryl that is of high enough grade to be considered a gem stone. Beryl is a clear mineral that is colored by impurities and makes up a variety of gemstones, including Emeralds and, of course, Aquamarine. In the case of Aquamarine, it is iron ‘impurities’, in ferris and ferric form that give these gemstones their blue and green colors. It is said that the blue-green colors of a sea bathed in sunlight lead to the gemstone getting it’s from the Latin words ‘aqua’ for water, and ‘mare’ for sea.
What is the color of aquamarine?
In the case of Aquamarine, it is iron ‘impurities’, in ferris and ferric form that give these gemstones their blue and green colors. It is said that the blue-green colors of a sea bathed in sunlight lead to the gemstone getting it’s from the Latin words ‘aqua’ for water, and ‘mare’ for sea. The ideal color for this jewel is a radiant sky blue.
Is aquamarine a gem?
Aquamarine is a gorgeous blue variety of beryl that is of high enough grade to be considered a gem stone. Beryl is a clear mineral that is colored by impurities and makes up a variety of gemstones, including Emeralds and, of course, Aquamarine.
Is blue topaz a gem?
You may then be looking at blue spinel or even colored glass. There are also cases of Blue Topaz being passed off as Aquamarines. While Topaz is a lovely gem itself, the value of the two stones are very different and there is not easy way of telling the difference just by looking at the stones.
What is the color of beryl?
In the case of Aquamarine, it is iron ‘impurities’, in ferris and ferric form that give these gemstones their blue and green colors.