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Transparent fine stone, beryl variety with a blue-green colour.

Known since antiquity, aquamarine belongs to the beryl family, the most famous of which is emerald. From its “ocean blue” color comes its Latin name aqua marina, sea water.

Where do aquamarines come from ?

The aquamarine found on the market comes mainly from Brazil (Minas Gerais, Bahia, Espirito Santo).

However, the mountainous regions of Madagascar provide the most beautiful specimens: their natural color is the most appreciated (blue-blue and not blue-green).

In addition to these two places of extraction, the main deposits are in Burma, Sri Lanka, Zambia, Russia (the Urals), Afghanistan and the United States.

Aquamarine always has a pastel blue color but the darker the color, the more expensive the stone.

As aquamarine is a stone mainly found in light shades, the size will be very important for the overall appearance, as the more intense the colour, the higher the price of the stone. It is the iron that gives it its colour, and the blue it possesses ranges from very pale and almost non-existent to ultramarine blue.

Aquamarine has good hardness (7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale) and an astonishing brilliance. Its hardness, which makes it a resistant stone, protects it adequately from scratches.

 

Aquamarine also has a reputation for ensuring happy marriages and inspiring mutual fidelity between young spouses ! In the Middle Ages, it was for these reasons that aquamarine was traditionally chosen for engagement rings.

Aquamarine, a royal stone!

Indeed, we can find this stone on many royal jewels such as the “Akvamarintiara kokoshnik” (Aquamarine Tiara) of the Swedish crown, regularly worn by the various princesses and in particular, the Heir to the throne (Victoria of Sweden) and her younger sister Madeleine of Sweden.

 

Princess Madeleine wearing the Akvamarintiara kokoshnik for her official portrait in 2016

 

But when we talk about jewels and crowns, we think first of Queen Elizabeth II. In 1953, she received from the President of Brazil an important set of aquamarines, with perfectly matched stones set in gold and platinum by the jewelers Mappin & Webb of Rio de Janiero.

It would have taken a year to collect stones of such quality. Brazil, continues thereafter, to offer stones to the queen, offering her a bracelet and a brooch in addition.

Later, in 1957, she completed the set by having a tiara made. After receiving new aquamarines as a gift from the Governor of Sao Paulo in 1968, she modified the ensemble to include the most important stones on the tiara in 1971.

 

The largest cut aquamarine specimen to date is on display at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C., USA. Named the ‘Dom Pedro Aquamarine’ in honour of emperors Pedro I and Pedro II of Brazil, this incredible stone, which is shaped like an obelisk 36cm high and 10cm wide, weighs 10,363 carats. Before it was cuted and shaped, it weighed 27kg, and was extracted from the Pedra Azul mine in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil.

 

Aquamarine and the Great Houses :

Aquamarine is a traditional jewellery stone, and many houses have used it and continue to use it to create jewellery. With its unique lagoon-blue colour and the possibility of choosing very large stones, aquamarine is regularly found on important pieces of fine jewellery. These include pieces by Dior Joaillerie, Pomellato and Van Cleef & Arpels, to name but a few.

"Incroyable et Merveilleuse" Ring from Dior Joaillerie

Light Blue Reef"  Rivière Necklace from Pomellato

Necklace gouache from Van Cleef & Arpels

 

If you are interested in aquamarine, don’t hesitate to discover what Pierres de Julie have to offer in the store…

We are also available for any free expertise of your aquamarine jewelry, for that you can send an email with your pictures to contact@lespierresdejulie.com.

Whether you're interested in buying a piece of jewellery or a stone, a free jewelry appraisal or jewelry resale, Pierres de Julie welcomes you to its Parisian boutique in the Village Suisse, a stone's throw from the Ecole Militaire and the Esplanade des Invalides.