The facts
What aquamarine actually is
Aquamarine is classified as beryl, with the composition Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈. It crystallises in the hexagonal system.
Colour comes from iron (Fe²⁺ for blue, Fe³⁺ for yellow), which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.577–1.583. Specific gravity around 2.68–2.74. Cleavage: imperfect, one direction. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where aquamarine comes from
Aquamarine is produced at Minas Gerais, Brazil, Shigar, Pakistan, Nyanga, Zambia, Erongo, Namibia and Madagascar.
The locality is part of the description, not a footnote — two stones of the same weight from two of these places are not the same stone.
How aquamarine is treated
Routinely heated to drive off the yellow component. Permanent and undetectable; assume it.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What aquamarine is confused with
In the trade aquamarine is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Blue topaz, Blue zircon, Glass or Synthetic spinel.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.577–1.583 and specific gravity 2.68–2.74 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What aquamarine is used for
Demand for aquamarine comes from jewellery, mineral collecting and carving and sculpture, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the specimen or by the block.
Durability and care
Aquamarine is 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale, with imperfect, one direction cleavage.
Hardness is not the whole story. Perfect cleavage means the stone can split cleanly if struck along the wrong plane, whatever its Mohs number, so a protective setting matters more here than the hardness suggests.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What aquamarine costs
As a guide, aquamarine trades around $30–500/ct.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is aquamarine treated, and how?
Routinely heated to drive off the yellow component. Permanent and undetectable; assume it.
Where does aquamarine come from?
Minas Gerais, Brazil, Shigar, Pakistan, Nyanga, Zambia, Erongo, Namibia and Madagascar. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is aquamarine hard enough to wear every day?
With care. It is 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale, which is hard enough, but imperfect, one direction cleavage means it can split if struck at the wrong angle. Use a protective setting and avoid ultrasonic cleaning.
How much does aquamarine cost?
Indicatively $30–500/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is aquamarine confused with?
Most often Blue topaz, Blue zircon, Glass and Synthetic spinel. A refractive index of 1.577–1.583 and a specific gravity near 2.68–2.74 separate it quickly.
What is aquamarine used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting and carving and sculpture. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for aquamarine?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about aquamarine