March

Birthstone: Aquamarine

THE LORE
It is axiomatic; that the longer a mineral is known the greater number of names it accumulates. Beryl (pronounced barrel!) is one of the oldest known minerals, and over several thousands of years it has accumulated an enormous number of terms. However, the term Aquamarine seems to be a relatively modern invention. For example, it cannot be found in the Marbod(1035 AD) or Magnus. While these and even earlier authors describe this variety of gemstone, the specific term apparently was first used in an important gemological work by Boetius de Boocit in his Gemmarum et Lapidum Historia. (1647). After this appearance it quickly established itself as an accepted varietal name. Probably the first vulgar version was the Italia Aquamarina.

Aquamarine through the ages has thought to confer dignity, be symbolic of charity and purity, improve memory, impart wealth, protect against dangers and illness while at sea, avert ambushes, cure shortness of breath, and many other advantages. it also became an appropriate morning gift from a bridegroom to his bride on the day after their wedding. If held in the mouth it enables one to call upon any elemental power and receive satisfaction for any question asked.

THE COMPOSITION
Aquamarine belongs to the Beryl family. This is the same group that provides us with Emerald, Golden Beryl, Morganite & Goshenite. The rough is usually formed in prismatic elongated crystals often etched or striated. For this reason, the larger the gemstone, the more likely it will not be calibrated. Rather the piece will tend to be elongated or, in the case of rounds, much more costly if over 9 mm.

Greenish aquamarines are due to iron. But they lose their green tones when the iron (yellow color bearing) is burned out. Blue aquamarines owe they're color to heat treatment of green aquamarine. Therefore, most Aquamarines (Aquas) have been heat treated. If your customer should happen to bring up the subject of treatment you can point out the great advantage of the treatment. That is there are gas bubbles in some natural rough that later may explode at temperatures as low as 100 degree F. Thus, an untreated Aqua may later develop a saturn type inclusion from exposure to heat, such as steam cleaning. However, any treated rough with gas inclusions already will have exploded and will have been discarded. The end result of what you are showing your customer is a beautiful blue, durable, gemstone suitable for everyday wear.

LOCALES
The finest aquas still come from Brazil, where there are many important deposits--and from PSU! Any discussion of Brazilian Aqua deposits must concentrate on one or two of the most important sites, because at any one time there may be many small mines in operation. So let's talk about the northern part of the State of Minas Gerais (General Mines). There, in the area of the Jequitinhoha River and its tributaries some of the most valuable stones are found particularly the Fortaleza Aquas. And the finest of these is in the area of the city of Teofilo Otoni. All deposits are pegmatite in origin. Production peaked in 1981 and has been falling ever since. The expense of finding and working new areas is considerable, so it is unlikely that Aquas will ever flood the market.

In the late 1970's when the cutters in Tel-Aviv were reeling from $80,000 per carat Diamonds, they turned their attention to a new Blue Beryl from Zimbabwe. And for the past several years, Te~Aviv has been supplying this African Aqua. Their expert cutting won instant approval in the U. S. and forced the Brazilian stones to be shipped to Bangkok for more competitive cutting. There are several locations in the U. S., the best known of which are the crystals from Connecticut where Beryl has been found at Haddam Neck and in other pegmatite locations.

THE PRICE
Prices have been stable for the past two to three years. With supply abundant and increased production from Bangkok, there is little likelihood of dramatic price increase the rest of this century. As always, the finer, rarer pieces will continue to command top dollars.

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