Aquamarine: March Moonstone
Aquamarine stone is one of the most beautiful semi-precious stones, with a special color and a unique story.
Did you know that it is considered the birthstone of March, but also the birthstone of the 19th birthday? There are many more interesting things to know about it, which we invite you to discover with us.
Both the vibrant hues and the symbolism of aquamarine have a special beauty. That's why when you give a piece of aquamarine jewelry as a gift, it's like bringing a touch of magic into someone's life. And at Indira, we carefully choose natural aquamarine and carefully select each stone to ensure that you can have the most beautiful ones.
Photo accessory: Birthstone Golden March Silver Necklace - Aquamarine
Aquamarine (or aquamarine ): Birthstone of March
Aquamarine is a semi-precious stone of a blue-green hue that in ancient times was considered the protector of those who traveled by sea. In the language of jewelry, it signifies hope and youth for eternity.
That is why it is the birthstone of March , the first month of spring, when Nature is filled with hope and teeming with life and rejuvenation. It is also the reason why it is given as a gift on the 19th wedding anniversary, celebrating the aspiration for a marriage for eternity.
The translucent, bluish hue of aquamarine is so similar to seawater that it is named after it. In Latin, aqua means water , and marinus means marine or of the sea . Thus, aquamarine ‒ in Romanian, aquamarin ‒ comes from aqua marinus , meaning sea water .
In Ancient Greece, the story goes that the God of the Sea, Poseidon, created aquamarine from the depths of the sea. How beautiful would it be to have an aquamarine stone in your jewelry, as if you were always carrying a piece of the ocean with you ?
Natural aquamarine jewelry
Natural aquamarine is a stone that can take millions of years to form. Hence the inherent beauty of jewelry that features natural stones. They are authentic and capture the essence of what they represent: patience, eternity, beauty.
And because everything created by nature is unique, no two look the same. Each natural aquamarine stone is unique in the world in shape, color and size. A gem with its own personality.
Because we want jewelry to be more than just accessories, all aquamarine jewelry on Indira is carefully crafted from natural semi-precious stones. To celebrate your connection with your partner or any special event in your life with a genuine gift.
If you also want to give a gift of a stone that says "love and hope forever", a stone of hope and the month of March, or simply a jewel that seems to have been plucked from the waves of the sea, you will fall in love with our jewelry.
Aquamarine pendant
And did I mention above that aquamarine stones are like a touch of magic in jewelry? That's exactly the impression an aquamarine pendant creates. Like a drop from the open sea on a clear day, a stone like the one on the Birthstone March - Aquamarine silver pendant envelops you in a peaceful and positive aura.
Beyond being a splendid detail, such a pendant becomes a very versatile gift. It is a fine and delicate piece that can be hung on any necklace, made of gold or silver, and easily paired with any other jewelry or outfit.
Have you seen the Birthstone collection on Indira?
The Birthstone by Indira collection includes all the jewelry with the stones of the 12 months of the year, including those with the stone of March. Bracelets, necklaces and pendants, there are numerous jewelry with natural stones from which you can choose to celebrate a person or a special event that you associate with a specific month.
Aquamarine bracelet
Not all women wear necklaces. There are many people who prefer to wear their jewelry all the time, without taking it off while sleeping, and who cannot sleep with a chain. If you notice that the person you want to give a piece of jewelry to doesn't usually wear necklaces, maybe the pendant is worth saving for another occasion. A wonderful alternative can be aquamarine bracelets, such as the Birthstone March - Aquamarine silver bracelet .
It is decorated with 4 4 mm aquamarine stones, making it a wonderful gift for a person born in March.
There is also the Birthstone Golden March - Aquamarine silver bracelet version plated with 14K yellow gold in a 2-micron layer, which has a special resistance to daily wear. There is no need to take it off your wrist even at night, because it is made to last for years without losing its color or shine.
Or, if you prefer a simpler bracelet, the Birthstone Golden March - Aquamarine silver cord bracelet or the Birthstone Silver March - Aquamarine silver cord bracelet are decorated with a single 3mm aquamarine stone. You can also choose between a 925 silver frame or one made of silver plated with 2 microns of 14K gold.
If 4-stone aquamarine bracelets are ideal for celebrating your bond with a loved one, a string bracelet can be the perfect choice to give as a gift to a special person without making them feel like you're doing too much . Occasions like March 1, March 8, or other events where you celebrate friendship are perfect for choosing such an aquamarine bracelet.
Aquamarine anklet
Bracelets are not just for hands, and aquamarine also shines delicately around the ankle. A minimalist accessory, easy to wear with any clothing style, is the SummerScape - Aquamarine silver anklet , decorated with 2.5mm aquamarine stones. It has an adjustable length between 21 cm and 26 cm, to sit delicately and elegantly on the foot.
How do you clean and care for aquamarine jewelry?
Aquamarine is a durable gemstone that can withstand a variety of cleaning solutions. Soap and water, as well as a mild acid, are sufficient to clean aquamarine without damaging it.
Make sure, however, to avoid contact with hydrofluoric acid (found in strong cleaning solutions and rust removers). It is one of the few chemicals that attacks aquamarine and can negatively affect it.
Exposing aquamarine to heat
We cannot say that aquamarine is heat-sensitive. Indeed, high temperatures can heat the stone and crack it, and strong heat can change its color until it becomes powdery white or devoid of any hue.
But there's no need to worry on hot summer days or while cooking. Major effects only occur after exposure to extreme temperatures, above 450°C.
Types of Beryl: What is Aquamarine Actually?
As I said above, aquamarine is a gemstone. But in terms of composition, this stone is a variety of beryl , a family that includes some of the most expensive stones in the world.
It is the same chemical formula as emerald, heliodor, and morganite. The difference is the hue of the stone, which in the case of aquamarine is blue-green and is influenced by the elements and impurities that were present during the formation of the stone.
The blue color of aquamarine comes from iron impurities trapped in the crystal structure, while other types of beryl (pink, green, golden) are colored differently by the presence of other elements such as manganese (morganite) or chromium (emerald).
Beryl is a mineral made of beryllium aluminum silicate, which can form both small crystals and giant crystals of extraordinary fineness. Therefore, aquamarine can also reach enormous sizes.
The largest natural block of aquamarine ever found measures 48 cm and weighs 110 kg. It was discovered in the Karakorum Mountains, Pakistan.
What does raw aquamarine mean ?
Have you ever heard of the concept of raw aquamarine ?
No, it is not the same as natural aquamarine. Raw does not refer to the origin of the stone, but rather indicates whether or not it has been worked. Stones that are NOT polished, rounded, or worked in any way are called raw aquamarine , and retain their slightly messy, even angular and rough appearance.
Aquamarine stone: Is it a precious or semi-precious stone?
It is said that there are only 4 precious stones in the world, namely diamond, sapphire, emerald and ruby. So by definition, aquamarine would be considered semi-precious.
And yet, aquamarine is still a beryl, with the same chemical formula. And the cataloging of the 4 gemstones was done a long time ago, in times when the difference in value and rarity between the two was very large.
Today, there are many semi-precious stones that are worth more than a lower-quality gemstone, are much rarer, and are more difficult to obtain. So, no natural stone is inferior to another. Each one is special in a subjective way, primarily through the emotional connection it creates.
Aquamarine properties and characteristics
Each stone has certain characteristics that can be recognized and that distinguish it from all others. Here are the most important things you should know about the properties of aquamarine.
Aquamarine color
Blue is the rarest color in nature. Have you ever noticed that there are hardly any foods with blue pigment? With the exception of a few flowers, butterflies, and very few animals, you rarely see blue in nature. Even the blue of the sea is a reflection, not a blue pigment.
So aquamarine is rare not only in terms of the time it takes to form, but also in its blue, slightly greenish, crystalline hue. Naturally, the stone exists in shades from light, translucent blue to intense shades of deep blue.
As a rule, the purer and darker the shade of blue, the rarer the stone and the higher its value.
Aquamarine stone in natural size
Like all types of beryl, aquamarine occurs naturally in both very small crystals, a few millimeters across, and extremely large blocks, such as the one discovered in Pakistan. However, this does not mean that the value of the stone increases proportionally with size.
Large aquamarine stones are not used in jewelry. Those that reach a few centimeters, for example, are used only as a center stone in an aquamarine ring or necklace. Therefore, the most valuable stones are the small and very small ones. Their price starts to decrease once they cross the 25 carat threshold.
The world's largest aquamarine stone is shaped like an obelisk and was cut from a crystal measuring nearly 24 inches (610 cm) long and weighing 60 pounds (27 kg). The Dom Pedro Aquamarine, as it is called, is 14 inches (36 cm) long and weighs over 4 pounds (2 kg) (10,363 carats).
The rarity of aquamarine stone
Aquamarine is found all over the world, with Minas Gerais in Brazil currently being the main place of origin. However, it remains a moderately rare stone in nature, which while not in the top 10 rarest stones, is the 27th rarest on the planet.
Blue topaz has a similar color, but it is not naturally formed. The hue is created with the help of radiation from colorless topaz.
How do you recognize a natural aquamarine stone?
Finally, let's tell you a few things about natural aquamarine stone, which is quite difficult to distinguish from synthetic.
The main difference between the two is their origin. Natural aquamarine is formed over tens of thousands or even millions of years deep in the earth, where conditions and temperatures are constantly changing. It is discovered by miners in parts of Africa, the USA, India, Pakistan and, most often, in Brazil.
Synthetic aquamarine is created in a laboratory under constant temperature and pressure, with controlled elements and impurities. These stones form more quickly, and the crystals look similar to natural ones - but not identical. The difference lies in the inclusions.
Natural aquamarine inclusions
During the formation of natural aquamarine, small cracks, fractures, or impurities such as gas bubbles, liquid tubes, pyrite, rutile, or crystals of other minerals become trapped between the crystals of the stone. These are called inclusions, and they are what make each stone unique.
Also called aquamarine gardens , they are those due to which no two aquamarine stones are identical . Depending on their type and number, the stone's transparency, intensity and shade of color change.
Well, in the case of synthetic aquamarine, there are much fewer such inclusions in a stone. They are not visible to the naked eye, but a specialist can distinguish a natural stone from a lab-created one upon examination.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Aquamarine Stone
1. Is there also green aquamarine?
Aquamarine is a variety of beryl, defined by its blue color. Green beryl is called emerald. Typically, aquamarine can range from translucent and light shades like the sky to intense and pure shades of dark navy blue. It is possible to have greenish shades, but we cannot talk about aquamarine if the stone is green.
2. How do I distinguish natural from artificial aquamarine?
You can't tell a natural aquamarine stone apart with the naked eye. However, a jeweler can identify synthetic stones, which have fewer inclusions than natural ones.
3. Does aquamarine have magical properties or is it just a myth?
Every piece of jewelry tells a story, and every person forms a special connection with the piece of jewelry they wear. If aquamarine inspires hope, courage, or any other positive emotion, you could certainly say that it brings a touch of magic to your life.
4. Can I give aquamarine to a person born in a month other than March?
Of course! Indeed, aquamarine is the birthstone for March and the 19th wedding anniversary. But that doesn't mean it's reserved exclusively for these occasions. Above all, aquamarine signifies peace and hope, and many couples even choose it for their engagement ring, as a symbol of a lasting relationship.
The meanings of the stones are meant to inspire, not limit your choices. If you love the unique hue or the overseas story of aquamarine, you can certainly wear it or give it as a gift in any other context. Aquamarine jewelry is versatile and easily matches all outfits, a wonderful gift to celebrate any special moment.
Bibliography:
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“March Birthstone: Aquamarine” International Gem Society, https://www.gemsociety.org/article/march-birthstone/. Accessed on 17.02.2024
Youtz, Mandy, Koser Jewelers, “Fun Facts About Aquamarine: March's Birthstone”, ”https://www.koserjewelers.com/blog-post/fun-facts-about-aquamarine-marchs-birthstone, 2022
Albertsone, Holy, The Eye of Jewelry, "Precious stones VS. semi precious stones: what are the differences between the two?", https://theeyeofjewelry.com/stones/precious-stones-semi-precious-stones-differences/, 2018
WC Editorial Team, “Natural vs. Synthetic Aquamarine”, https://www.withclarity.com/blogs/gemstone/natural-vs-synthetic-aquamarine?vsly-redirected-from=44f515b6-d846-4f32-92ed-79e78d5a8df9-9bf5d85f-9b5f-4b15-a626-fbf45df94115. 2023
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