Aquamarine Gemstones: Good Luck, Good Cut
 Aquamarine gemstones are very affordable. Once thought of as good luck stones for sailors, aquamarine gemstones have a lot of land-lovers smiling, too. Whether you are at land or sea,
aquamarine gemstones are great to have.
Since aquamarine is the modern birthstone for the month of March, aquamarine gemstones are suitable to give as gifts for people who have a birthday in March, or for couples celebrating their 16th or 19th wedding anniversaries. Sailors used to wear aquamarine for safety and to thwart off seasickness, and thus, aquamarine was their lucky stone. So…if you know of a sailor married for 16 or 19 years and born in March, you could really make that person’s day by giving a gift of aquamarine!
Aquamarine is from the Latin “aqua marinus,” which means “water of the sea.” Aquamarine gemstones have few inclusions and range in color from very light blue to bluish green. The clarity and depth of color help determine the price. The deeper aqua blue colored aquamarine gemstones are the most desired. Aquamarine gemstones’ color is determined by the amount of iron they contain. Aquamarine gemstones are sometimes heat treated to achieve a stronger blue color. The color change that results from this process is permanent.
Aquamarine gemstones have been found in Afghanistan, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Pakistan, Zambia, Russia, Kenya, Tanzania, Brazil, and the United States. Some of the more valuable aquamarine gemstones come from Brazil, while in the United States, aquamarine is the official gemstone of the state of Colorado.
 As members of the beryl family of gemstones, aquamarine gemstones are quite durable, rating a 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Gemstone designers/cutters enjoy working with aquamarine gemstones because they are easy to cut, and as a result, the designers/cutters can get creative with their cuts. Aquamarine is normally found in a faceted cut. However, if aquamarine is cut as cabochon, a cat’s eye effect is produced. This is known as asterism.
Aquamarine is available in many sizes, as well. The price per carat is usually pretty stable, regardless of the gemstone’s size. Star aquamarine is the most expensive, followed by cat’s eye. Aquamarine is slightly more expensive than blue topaz, but still affordable.
Normal cleaning and care is required for aquamarine. A soft brush and warm, soapy water will do just fine. Aquamarine...we all need some for smooth sailing through life.
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