Natural blue aquamarine 10.05ct cushion cut loose gemstone for jewelry making

Natural Aquamarine Gemstones

Aquamarine is the blue to blue-green variety of beryl (Be3Al2Si6O18), colored by traces of iron. With a Mohs hardness of 7.5 to 8 it shares beryl's durability, and it usually grows with far fewer inclusions than its relative emerald, giving it excellent natural clarity. Its name comes from the Latin for seawater, a fair description of its cool, clear blue.

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Gemstone guide

Natural Aquamarine Gemstones

About aquamarine

Aquamarine is the birthstone for March. Brazil is its most famous source, and Minas Gerais has produced some of the largest gem crystals ever found; Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan also produce fine material. Much aquamarine on the market is gently heated to remove a greenish or yellowish tint and leave a purer blue, a stable and widely accepted treatment. Aquamarine is a sister of emerald and morganite: all three are beryl, colored by different trace elements.

What you'll find in this collection

Our aquamarine comes from Brazil and Africa, and all stones are untreated. You'll find faceted ovals, pears, hearts, rounds and cushions, including a checkerboard cut, plus a few cabochons, from about 1.7 to nearly 20 carats, in pale to medium sky blue.

How to recognise aquamarine

Aquamarine is doubly refractive and shows dichroism: it often looks a deeper blue along the length of the crystal and almost colorless from the side, which is why cutters orient it carefully. Its color is usually pale to medium in tone and looks best in larger stones. Long, thin tubes called rain inclusions are typical, and it is lighter than blue topaz, about 2.7 against 3.5, which helps separate the two.

Caring for aquamarine

Aquamarine is hard and fairly tough, so it suits everyday jewelry. Clean it with warm soapy water and a soft brush. Avoid sudden temperature changes and ultrasonic cleaning for stones with visible inclusions.

Every stone is natural, and each listing gives its weight, size, origin and treatment, with photos of the actual stone.