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The Gemstones
Aquamarine
Consumer Information
What color is it?: Well, in its better colors its a lot
darker than the one I have shown above. Unfortunately, most people
see the very light blue color of aquamarine. But in its finest
color aquamarine will be a rather dark blue, rivaling a nice
medium blue sapphire. But they are rare and expensive.
What is the story behind
this gemstone?: For
many years a favorite of many consumers. It lost some of its
appeal when the much cheaper treated blue topaz come onto the
market. But a nice, medium dark blue aquamarine is a very, very
fine gift for any occasion.
Can I wear it everyday?: Yes. Although this
is a sister stone to an emerald (both beryls) aquamarine does
not have the brittleness that is sometimes associated with emerald.
Is it expensive?: Aquamarines in the very light blue
color as seen in the photo above will be priced comparable to
a green tourmaline. But the darker blue colors will cost much
more in the range of a fine chrysoberyl.
Is it a birthstone?: March
What do I need to know
before going shopping?: You
need to stay with a professional independent jeweler who knows
his or her colored gemstones. Far too many blue topaz have been
sold as aquamarines by jewelers who did not know how to properly
identify a nice aquamarine. So stay with a well established jeweler
who deals in a lot of colored gemstones.
General Information
Aquamarine crystal of 5 inches in length on matrix