Aquamarine: meaning, properties, care and how to choose

What is aquamarine?

Aquamarine is the blue to blue-green variety of beryl, a beryllium aluminium silicate (Be3Al2Si6O18). The same mineral gives emerald when it is green and morganite when it is pink. Transparent, with a vitreous lustre, its hardness ranges from 7.5 to 8: it is a solid stone, suitable for everyday jewellery.

Its name comes from the Latin aqua marina, “sea water”. It forms mainly in pegmatites, granitic rocks with large crystals. The crystals can be spectacular: pieces weighing as much as 100 kg have been found in Brazil. The stone is mined in Brazil (Minas Gerais), Pakistan, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Russia, China and the United States, as well as in France, at a few small sites.

It has been known since antiquity, when intaglios were carved in the stone; Pliny the Elder mentions it under the name “aeroides”. Among famous stones, the Dom Pedro cut, of more than 10,000 carats, is on display in Washington.

Traditional symbolism

Its calm-sea colour made it, for centuries, a sailors' talisman: it was said to come from the treasure of the mermaids and to help avoid shipwreck. The Romans also attributed healing virtues to it. These are old beliefs, which we report as such: no study confirms such an effect.

In the modern tradition of stones, it is associated with clarity, serenity and measured speech. It is also given to newlyweds as a symbol of faithfulness: it corresponds to the 23rd wedding anniversary (see the page on stones for wedding anniversaries).

Traditional correspondences

For the list of stones by month, see the page on March birthstones.

How to use it

• In jewellery: rings, pendants and earrings. Its hardness and brilliance make it a classic jewellery stone. See the guide to gemstone jewellery.
• As a rough crystal: a raw crystal, often prismatic, keeps its natural charm; place it on a piece of furniture or a desk.
• In meditation: holding a cool stone and watching the light pass through it is a simple exercise in attention.
• As a gift: a symbolic present for March, or for a wedding anniversary.

In the shop, rough crystals are found mainly in the rough stones section.

Care and cleansing

• Water: warm soapy water and a soft brush are enough. The stone is hard and tolerates water.
• Sunlight: natural aquamarine tolerates light well. A “Maxixe” stone (see below) can however fade in sunlight.
• Knocks: despite its hardness, it has planes of weakness: a sharp blow can chip it. Stones with fissures or inclusions tolerate ultrasonic cleaners poorly.
• Harsh products: avoid them; they dull the settings.

For symbolic cleansing, see the guide to cleansing and recharging your stones.

Recognising a real aquamarine, treatments and imitations

• Heating: very common and accepted. It removes the yellow tones caused by iron and makes the stone bluer, in a stable way. A naturally blue aquamarine costs more.
• Maxixe: a dark blue beryl obtained by irradiation, whose colour may fade in light. It is not an aquamarine in the strict sense.
• Blue topaz: very widespread, often a more intense and more uniform blue. It is colourless topaz that has been irradiated, not aquamarine.
• Glass and synthetic spinel: a perfect blue and a very low price call for caution; round bubbles or a total absence of flaws are signs of glass.

Genuine aquamarine has a soft tint, sometimes with fine tube-like or veil-like inclusions. For a valuable stone, ask for a certificate from a gemmological laboratory. See also the guide to choosing and caring for your stones.

How to choose

• Colour: the value rises with the intensity of pure blue; a very pale blue is less expensive but more delicate.
• Transparency: look at the clarity and the inclusions against the light.
• Size: beryl is readily cut into large stones, which remain affordable compared with other gems.
• Pairings: it goes well with soft tones, such as blue lace agate or morganite.

Frequently asked questions

Also read

The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to Guide to stones.