To us, few gemstones signify the arrival of spring and warm weather better than the aquamarine. Their lustrous and alluring color calls back days of lounging on a boat on a Minnesota lake soaking up all of the warmth the sun had to offer. In this edition of the Master Jeweler’s series, we dive headfirst into the cool, refreshing world of March’s birthstone, the aquamarine.

GIA rates the aquamarine at a 7.5-8 on the Moh’s Hardness Scale, which makes it suitable for everyday wear. Like most of the gemstones we post about, care should be taken to avoid harsh blows and sudden, drastic temperature changes. General care practices, like cleaning with warm soap and water, and having your local jeweler check and clean your aquamarine pieces at least twice yearly should be exercised.

More intensely natural-colored aquamarine, like many other gemstones, are more difficult to find and, consequently, are more expensive. GIA states that the number of colors aquamarine is found in is limited. More specifically aquamarines “… can be blue, very slightly greenish blue, greenish blue, very strongly greenish blue, or green-blue.” (GIA.edu)

Now, onto some fun facts about the aquamarine:

  • The largest aquamarine ever found weighed 110 kilograms.
  • 15,000 feet: the highest elevation on the planet that aquamarines are mined
  • Many are heat-treated to bring out the blue color; naturally intense blue aquamarine is rare and very expensive
  • Represents the 19th wedding anniversary

Contact us with any questions, or to have your aquamarine jewelry checked and cleaned.

Cheers and Happy (almost) spring!

-Mauk Jewelers

Source: GIA