AquamarineMarch's birthstone, the aquamarine, has been mined throughout the world for thousands of years. The beautiful blue-green stone, from the same mineral family as emeralds, ranges in color from nearly colorless to pure, rich sky blue. Since ancient times, it has been associated with the sea and referred to as the mermaid's treasure. In addition to being the birthstone for March, the aquamarine is the official gem for the 19th wedding anniversary. Learn more about the March birthstone Buying Aquamarine gemstonesClarity and color are the main determinants of value for the aquamarine. Because the stone is usually pale, clarity is a major concern. A high quality aquamarine will have no inclusions and be perfectly transparent. In terms of size, because large aquamarines are regularly found in nature, large size aquamarines (1 carat and above) are comparatively less expensive than many other stones. Larger stones are also more likely to have the richness of color that's associated with the most valuable aquamarines. The highest valued aquamarines are pure, clear blue without a hint of green - at least in the U.S. European collectors tend to favor the 'seafoam' colors, which shade more toward aqua and sea green. If your preference in color leans toward aqua rather than blue, you're likely to find some outstanding values in aquamarines. Because they are so often 'eye clean' with no visible inclusions, aquamarines are often cut in long, shallow cuts that allow the color to gather and refract properly. It's a cut that shows off the aquamarine's transparency and watery quality. Aquamarine gemstone careAquamarines are midway on the Mohs scale for hardness. While they are durable stones, their clarity and the typical shallow cuts used to emphasize aquamarine's color make frequent cleaning a must to keep the gems looking their best. Everyday caution Although aquamarines are hard stones (they measure 7 on the Mohs scale), inclusions or faults in the stone could make them vulnerable to breakage or chipping. As with any gem, take them off when you're doing housework, yard work, exercising or other physical activities that could put the gems at risk of banging and knocking into things. Also avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight with aquamarines to avoid fading their color. Storing aquamarine jewelry Light, especially sunlight, can fade the color in natural aquamarine. Store aquamarine jewelry in a dark place, preferably in a separate pouch or cloth in a jewelry box. Be careful not to just toss all your gem jewelry into a box without protection. Gems can scratch each other and metal pieces. Cleaning aquamarine jewelry Clean aquamarine jewelry often to get rid of dust or soap that might collect behind the stone in the setting. You can soak the piece in warm water with a little dishwashing soap added, and scrub with a soft toothbrush. Because aquamarines are a single crystal gemstone, you can add a little ammonia to the water for added sparkle. |
