Aquamarine Earrings, Aquamarine Pendants, Aquamarine Rings and all other Aquamarine Jewellery, are set with stones from the family of beryl. These are naturally found in clear forms, but when iron is present in various amounts producing blue and green/yellow hues are then so called aquamarine.
The Chemical Properties
Chemical formulae (Be3AL2(Si6018).
The colour shades of the usually colourless beryl and where they are found within the crystal, are directly influenced by the amount of Fe2+ irons and Fe3+ irons found. This degree of contamination controls the colour hues from blues through to green-yellows. The beryl when heated to 300 degrees Celsius will then loose its predominant yellow colours and only show all its wonderful blue hues.
All the colours of aquamarine are usually found in the ranges from blue to green, with the lighter and paler blues being the most common and therefore obviously the least expensive. The best, most sought after and valuable colour is said in the jewellery trade to show "electric-sky" blue hues, but this is also dependent upon the cut, size and also clarity of the stone. Similar to the gemstone tanzanite, aquamarine shows true "pleochroism" whereby in daylight it shows different colours to that in candlelight.
More Properties of Aquamarine
Crystal System: hexagonal
Specific Gravity: 2.8
Specific Gravity: 2.8
Index of Refraction: 1.57-1.6
Where is Aquamarine found
It is found in granite and metamorphic rock and it is usually surface mined from an open pit by hand. Fires are used to split giant rocks apart instead of blasting with dynamite so as not to cause too much damage. The rocks are then basically hand chiseled to locate the sources of beryl before extracting. In most places ordinary beryl crystals can be found in very large dimensions and therefore so can the crystals associated with aquamarines. Emerald is also a member of the beryl group, but it is much harder to find and therefore more expensive than aquamarine.
Aquamarine is mined from around the world including; Afghanistan, China, Kenya, Pakistan and Siberia, but the very best source has been historically from Brazil where prime examples continue to be found showing fantastic colours, which just like from other areas also show specific inclusions that can show the gemologist exactly where the stones originate from.
In Summary
When seen in larger sizes and with good clarity so you can see through the stone easily, aquamarine is a very beautiful and sought after gemstone, that demands very high prices. It has been set in all sorts and style of jewellery through the ages, but perhaps looks its best when set into large Victorian inspired "cocktail" rings, surrounded with diamonds.
If you are indeed considering purchasing aquamarines or aquamarine jewellery, then good luck and enjoy!
The Chemical Properties
Chemical formulae (Be3AL2(Si6018).
The colour shades of the usually colourless beryl and where they are found within the crystal, are directly influenced by the amount of Fe2+ irons and Fe3+ irons found. This degree of contamination controls the colour hues from blues through to green-yellows. The beryl when heated to 300 degrees Celsius will then loose its predominant yellow colours and only show all its wonderful blue hues.
All the colours of aquamarine are usually found in the ranges from blue to green, with the lighter and paler blues being the most common and therefore obviously the least expensive. The best, most sought after and valuable colour is said in the jewellery trade to show "electric-sky" blue hues, but this is also dependent upon the cut, size and also clarity of the stone. Similar to the gemstone tanzanite, aquamarine shows true "pleochroism" whereby in daylight it shows different colours to that in candlelight.
More Properties of Aquamarine
Crystal System: hexagonal
Specific Gravity: 2.8
Specific Gravity: 2.8
Index of Refraction: 1.57-1.6
Where is Aquamarine found
It is found in granite and metamorphic rock and it is usually surface mined from an open pit by hand. Fires are used to split giant rocks apart instead of blasting with dynamite so as not to cause too much damage. The rocks are then basically hand chiseled to locate the sources of beryl before extracting. In most places ordinary beryl crystals can be found in very large dimensions and therefore so can the crystals associated with aquamarines. Emerald is also a member of the beryl group, but it is much harder to find and therefore more expensive than aquamarine.
Aquamarine is mined from around the world including; Afghanistan, China, Kenya, Pakistan and Siberia, but the very best source has been historically from Brazil where prime examples continue to be found showing fantastic colours, which just like from other areas also show specific inclusions that can show the gemologist exactly where the stones originate from.
In Summary
When seen in larger sizes and with good clarity so you can see through the stone easily, aquamarine is a very beautiful and sought after gemstone, that demands very high prices. It has been set in all sorts and style of jewellery through the ages, but perhaps looks its best when set into large Victorian inspired "cocktail" rings, surrounded with diamonds.
If you are indeed considering purchasing aquamarines or aquamarine jewellery, then good luck and enjoy!
About the Author:
To purchase Beautiful Aquamarine Jewellery, it is worth going to www.GlobeJewellery.co.uk to find a great range of Stunning Aquamarine Rings, Aquamarine Earrings and Aquamarine Pendants, and more Aquamarine Jewellery!