A real aquamarine stone is a kind of gemstone falling into the beryl mineral class; emeralds are also belong to this kind of mineral. Its name derived from Latin Aquamarine that literally translated as ‘Water of the Sea’, symbolising its beautiful blue to blue green colour looking like sea water.
Here are some key features of a real aquamarine stone:
1. Color:
– An aquamarine is blue in color but it varies from a light blue to a deeper blue and the most valued variety is that which has the bluer shade of blue which is bright.
– The blue color of the gem is due to presence of even smaller amounts of iron which interfere with the light passing through the beryl structure.
2. Clarity:
– Aquamarines are normally transparent and they are quite clean and free from blemishes known as inclusions which affect the appearance of the gemstone.
– Indeed, clusters of aquamarine are said to be of higher quality and their clarity is costlier, as are majorities of visible inclusions less.
3. Hardness:
– You can estimate the material’s hardness as 7. It is categorised as 5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, thus can be considered as quite hard and workable for various ornaments such as rings and pendants.
4. Natural vs. Treated:
– Natural aquamarines are commonly thermally treated for improving the shade and give it that brighter blue shade. This treatment is standard across the gemstone industry and in no way reduces the value of the centre stone.
– An aquamarine that is not treated at all is much rarer and may appear green blue in colour.
5. Sources:
– Aquamarine is present in many parts of the world though some of the main producers are, Brazil, Madagascar, Pakistan, Russia and Nigeria.
6. Metaphysical Properties:
– They claim that aquamarine stands for peacefulness, bravery and enlightenment, and is linked to water and the sea. It is also a March birthstone.
In conclusion, a real aquamarine stone refers to a natural blue to blue-green beryl crystal considered beautiful, transparent, and hard. It has to be pointed out that when purchasing it, one should pay much attention to its source in order to make sure it is not a fake.
