A is for Aqua

Aquamarine comes from two words in Latin, Aqua meaning ‘water’, Marina; meaning ‘of the sea’. It was said that it calmed waves and kept sailors safe at sea. Representing March’s birthstone, it was thought to enhance the happiness of marriage.

Aqua is a beryl stone, like emeralds, it is now considered a precious stones adding to the original 3 (Emerald, Ruby and Sapphire).

The value of an Aqua depends on the clarity, depth of color and to a lesser extent the purity of color.  Although Aqua gems can be easily confused with Blue Topaz, Aqua is much more rare and valuable. The term “Santa Marina” refers to a very fine deep blue deposit of Aqua that was discovered in Brazile at the Santa Marina de Itabria mines.

The majority of the Aqua gems are found in Brazil and it so happens that the largest stone was found in Brazil weighing 243 lbs. but was cut into smaller stones that amounted to 200,000 carats. Some of these stones can still be found in museums.  Some say that the beautiful exotic stone dates back to 300 BC.

The Aqua’s hardness is between 7.5-8.0, which is durable enough to be used in any type of jewelry. The gemstone is very popular amongst high end designers. The Aqua gemstone captivates the hearts of men as well as women alike. The stone is popular for their brilliance and natural subtle glow.