| arine is a light blue gemstone that was discovered | | | | inexperienced observer. Stones that contain flaws |
| around two thousand years ago. The name of | | | | such as inclusions and fracture planes are not as |
| stone has its origins in the Latin language. It is a | | | | valuable as flawless specimens. Cutting and |
| combination of “aqua” – | | | | polishing aquamarine specimens are relatively easy |
| which means “water” and | | | | and therefore easy to work into a wide range of |
| “mare” with translates to | | | | jewelry designs and patterns. Aquamarine is |
| “sea” in Latin. The Greeks are | | | | almost always cut with facets for jewelry |
| credited with the first use of aquamarine for | | | | applications. |
| jewelry around the fourth or fifth century BC. | | | | Aquamarine is mined in various countries around |
| From here, aquamarine spread around the world | | | | the world. However, Brazil is undisputed leader in |
| along established trade routes. As time passed, | | | | aquamarine production – both in terms of |
| the popularity of aquamarine increased, and | | | | the quality of specimens found here as well as |
| peaked around the seventeenth century. When it | | | | the volume to aquamarine supplied to markets |
| comes to jewelry applications, the color of | | | | around the world. Among the notable finds in this |
| aquamarine has won the hearts of jewelry | | | | country are the stunning 200-lb specimen found |
| aficionados around the world. This is because the | | | | near Marambaia, and the 50- plus pound Dom |
| light blue color of the stone is quite neutral and as | | | | Pedro. African countries such as Nigeria, Zambia, |
| such, can be easily matched with all skin tones | | | | Madagascar, and Mozambique are also important |
| and eye colors. In fact, the color is so very mild | | | | producers of aquamarine. Mozambique in particular |
| that it is often used in jewelry and ornaments for | | | | quite often produces specimens that are said to |
| babies and young children. Light colored stones can | | | | rival the best specimens found in the Brazilian |
| sometimes be heat treated to intensify their | | | | mines. On the Asian continent, India, China, |
| colors. In most cases, the change in color is | | | | Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have some |
| permanent. One interesting note about aquamarine | | | | aquamarine producing mines. However, the quality |
| – it is found in nature in crystalline as well | | | | of Asian aquamarine is moderate at best, and is |
| as in glassy or amorphous forms. The glassy | | | | often only suited for costume or fashion jewelry |
| form is often found in odd shapes, some with | | | | applications. The United States of America is a |
| holes in them. | | | | relatively small producer on the world scene, even |
| Jewelry designers prefer to use stones that have | | | | though this stone is found in several states |
| an intense and deep color. Stones that have | | | | around the country. Specimens from |
| tinges of yellow and brown are considered to be | | | | Massachusetts deserve special mention because |
| less valuable and less desirable compared to | | | | the blue color of these stones is so intense that |
| specimens with a pure blue color. One | | | | they are often compared to sapphires. One |
| disadvantage of the light color of this stone is that | | | | negative aspect of American specimens is that |
| flaws are readily apparent even to an | | | | are usually small in size and difficult to process. |