Sea for Yourself

By: Jeffrey M. Bertman Graduate Gemologist Have aquamarine as your March birthstone, you have even more reason to be enamored of the gemstone that everyone seems to love. High-quality, clear, transparent aquamarine looks very much like its namesake in colors ranging from light blue to dark blue to blue-green and green-blue. The more saturated the color is, the higher the value of the gemstone. While nearly all aquamarine is typically a lighter blue tone, a deeply saturated blue is the most desirable color and particularly rare in larger sizes. However, unlike other colored gemstones, aquamarine’s popularity is not diminished by colors of lesser intensity. In fact, many actually prefer the more crystal-clear lighter colors over the deeper shades. During the 19th century, sea green varieties of the stone were the most popular, but today, the more blue the color, the more valuable the stone. In the early 1900s, the largest aquamarine was discovered in Brazil, weighing 243 pounds. There is a Roman legend suggesting that the stone absorbs the atmosphere of young love and “When blessed and worn, it joins in love, and does great things.” Aquamarine was also considered the most appropriate morning gift for a groom to give his bride following their wedding night. Come into our store located at 1402 Hancock Street, Quincy Center. Or reach us at 617-773-3636