JewelStruck Blog

Continuing with Gemstone Each Month Series (GEMS) – March for Auqamarine, we would be discussing about History behind Aquamarine and its uses. This cool blue fascinatingly beautiful gemstone has been extremely popular in history. Also showcasing a very beautiful Aquamarine ring by one of our contributor Maura Nicholson.

Aquamarine crystal wand ring in Silver & 9ct gold setting

• Talking about he history, Aquamarine was first mined in 1811 in Brazil. But according to some documented proofs the use of aquamarine gemstones exists between 480 and 300 BC. Greeks used aquamarine to make jewelry.
• Small opaque and translucent aquamarine rocks were used by pirates and sailors, who believed that it would protect them and ensure a safe journey.
• Coming to applications, Aquamarine generally occurs in large and flawless crystals. Its faceted into many cut and is used in jewelry for rings, earrings, necklaces, etc. Six-sided large crystals are worn as necklace pendants. Less common are translucent aquamarine, showing  asterism and cat’s eye effect, these are mainly cut and polished into cabochons.

So this was about the history and applications of Aquamarine, would be posting more about it soon. If you would like to share anything on this stone please email us at info@jewelstruck.com.

Image credit – Maura Nicholson

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• GEMS January – Basic information on Garnets
• GEMS March – How to care for Aquamarine Jewelry
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• Gemstone Each Month Series (GEMS) – Aquamarine for March
• GEMS January – History behind garnet and its applications!

Here we go with our second post on Gemstone Each Month Series, GEMS - March for Aquamarine. In this post we would be discussing about mines and types of Aquamarine. Also featuring faboulus Aquamarine beaded, Gailaviraean Twist style hoop earrings, by Candy Degel. If you have anything to share with us on Auqamarine, please do email us on info@jewelstruck.com before the month ends :-)

Aquamarine beaded, Gailaviraean Twist style hoop earrings

Aquamarines are generally distinguished from their colors. Various varieties of auqamarine coming from different sources have different shades of blue. Its really tough to find untreated(unheated) crystal, as almost every stone is heat treated to remove the green tint.

• Brazil is the main source of Aquamarine and is a leader in world market today. Aquamarines mined from the Santa Maria de Itabira mine in Brazil are intense blue, they are named after the state  and called ‘Santa Maria’. The other variety from Brazil which is a blue not so intense, comes from state called ‘Espirito Santo’.
• Some stones mined in Africa, particularly Mozambique too have a similar intense blue color as Brazillian one. Though African they have been given name ‘Santa Maria Africana’.
• Aquamarine mined from Madagascar are genrally medium dark blue in color.
• India, Pakistan, Mozambique, Nigeria, China, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Norway, North Ireland, Russia and the United States are few other sources for Aquamarine.

A few varieties of Aquamarine also include

• clear yellow beryl, sometimes called aquamarine chrysolite.
• corondum with a bluish tint of typical aquamarine, often termed Oriental Aquamarine.
• The deep blue version of aquamarine is called maxixe.

So thats all we had to discuss on sources and types, we will be coming with more on Aquamarine sooner.

Image Credits: Candy Degel

You might be interested in:

• Gemstone Each Month Series (GEMS) – Aquamarine for March
• GEMS March – History behind Aquamarine and its applications
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• GEMS March – Metaphysical & Healing properties of Aquamarine
• GEMS April – Types of Diamond

Aquamarine has been chosen as Gemstone Each Month Series (GEMS) for March. So we would be discussing about it in detail this complete month. Its the birthstone for March and also with the summers approaching, knowing about this cool blue stone would definitely help you  :-). So lets get started with some quick facts on Aquamarine for the first part of this series.

Aquamarine Seahorse Teardrop Gold Earrings by ShadowMoonDesigns

• Aquamarine is blue or to be more correct turqoise variety of beryl (beryllium aluminium cyclosilicate)
• It is named after a latin phrase – “Water of the sea”
• It’s hardness ranges from 7.5-8 on Mohs scale and refractive indes from 1.57-1.58
• Madagascar was first source for Aquamarine, though Brazil produces most of it today.
• It’s the official state gem of Colorado, USA
• It is often heat treated to make it pure blue and remove the green tint.
• And as stated above too, its the birthstone for March.

Here were few quick facts on aquamarine, more will be coming sooner. If you have anything to share on Aquamarine, please do email us on info@jewelstruck.com.

Image credit :- ShadowMoonDesigns

You might be interested in:

• GEMS March – Mines and types of Aquamarine
• GEMS March – Metaphysical & Healing properties of Aquamarine
• GEMS March – History behind Aquamarine and its applications
• Amethyst for Gemstone Each Month Series (GEMS) – February
• Gemstone Each Month Series (GEMS) – Diamond for April

Brass,topaz,aquamarine,apatite and kyanite necklace

This handcut brass necklace has apatite, topaz , aquamarine and kyanite beads, lots of lovely shades of blue. It also  has a gold plated chain and gold plated beads. It is from a collection I did a few years ago, I didn’t name them then but do now, it makes life easier when do price list, pics and loading onto my website. It  is also fun to thinking  up names for each collection although it can be quite hard, it has to sound right and not to silly.

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Apatite, Aquamarine and Topaz necklace in brass

This necklace has a handcut brass pendant on three strands of gold plated chain, it has lots of topaz, aquamarine and apatite beads, also there are lots of little gold plated beads hanging. There are lots of lovely shades of blue which look great with the gold. It took a while to make because of all the beading but I think it turn out rather nice! You can grab it from my website here.

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