The facts
What aquaprase actually is
Aquaprase is classified as chalcedony, with the composition SiO₂. It crystallises in the trigonal (cryptocrystalline) system.
Colour comes from chromium and nickel in combination give the blue-green tone, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.530–1.539. Specific gravity around 2.58–2.64. Cleavage: none. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where aquaprase comes from
Aquaprase is produced at Southern Africa (undisclosed deposit, trade-marked by its discoverer).
One source only — which is unusual, and which means an origin claim naming anywhere else is either a mistake or a different material.
How aquaprase is treated
Sold as untreated. It is a registered trade name for one deposit's material, so 'aquaprase' from other sources is likely dyed or misdescribed chalcedony.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What aquaprase is confused with
In the trade aquaprase is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Chrysoprase, Blue chalcedony, Dyed chalcedony or Amazonite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.530–1.539 and specific gravity 2.58–2.64 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What aquaprase is used for
Demand for aquaprase comes from jewellery, carving and sculpture, decorative objects and mineral collecting, 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 block or by the piece.
Durability and care
Hardness 6.5–7; cleavage none. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What aquaprase costs
As a guide, aquaprase trades around $10–120/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 aquaprase treated, and how?
Sold as untreated. It is a registered trade name for one deposit's material, so 'aquaprase' from other sources is likely dyed or misdescribed chalcedony.
Where does aquaprase come from?
Southern Africa (undisclosed deposit, trade-marked by its discoverer). That is the only commercial source.
Is aquaprase hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 6.5–7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does aquaprase cost?
Indicatively $10–120/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 aquaprase confused with?
Most often Chrysoprase, Blue chalcedony, Dyed chalcedony and Amazonite. A refractive index of 1.530–1.539 and a specific gravity near 2.58–2.64 separate it quickly.
What is aquaprase used for besides jewellery?
carving and sculpture, decorative objects and mineral collecting. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for aquaprase?
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 aquaprase