Aquamarine is a very affordable and popular gemstone. From the trace of iron chemical composition, it gets its blue tint and it comes from the beryl mineral family.
This gemstone is easy to mine and highly resistant to inclusions. This is the reasons that makes it less expensive and common.
On the other hand, the emerald stone which is called its cousin has different characteristics.
By avoiding non-trustworthy sellers and smart shopping by fixing a budget, you can detect a high-quality Aquamarine gemstone.
Over the years, aquamarine jewelry like rings, earrings, etc is in demand.
Table of Contents
How Much Does Aquamarine Cost?
The cost of Aquamarine depends upon the clarity, origin, color, carat, and cut. $150 to $200 per carat is the cost of mid-range Aquamarines. The cost goes up or down according to the quality of this gemstone. $90 per carat is the cost of a light blue stone which would be unheated and $180 to $250 is the cost of a light blue-green stone. As per a rough chart, $660 per carat is the cost of a 1-carat Aquamarine. If you want to buy a 2 to 3 carat, then you have to pay up to $1000 per carat. The value will increase simultaneously with the growing carats about a range of 40% to 60%.
Factors that can influence the cost of Aquamarine
The treated blue topaz competes with the Aquamarine in the commercial market. The sales rate of fine Aquamarine is higher than the blue topaz.
Here we will discuss some elements that can affect the cost of Aquamarine.
Color
There is a very narrow color range for Aquamarine. It can be found in blue, greenish-blue, very slightly greenish blue, very strongly greenish blue, or in the green-blue shade.
The gemstone with moderately high intensity and slightly greenish blue to dark blue color is most valuable.
The most valuable and pure Aquamarine stones have come in intense blue color.
But the most common color that can be seen in the market is light greenish-blue.
So most of the sellers give heat treatment to the Aquamarine to give it a pure blue color.
Clarity
Most of the faceted Aquamarines are eye-clean.
Finished gemstones have absent or few clarity characteristics in them but they might be containing liquid inclusions.
Beads, cabochons, or cravings are done usually in those Aquamarine stones which have an eye-visible inclusion in them.
Some gemstones have sufficient parallel inclusions like liquid-filled tubes or long hollows in them. It helps in cutting and provides a rough estimation cat’s-eye for fashioning the crystal.
Cut
Generally round or emerald cuts or oval cuts are done for an Aquamarine gemstone by a cutter.It can be cut into any structure.
There are a huge number of rough stones present. Fairly common in the market is well-cut gemstones.
With beautiful carvers, artists, designers, the transparency, and hardness of the Aquamarine makes them popular.
For ornamental objects and fantasy cuts, the Aquamarines are used in gem sculptors. In different crystal directions, the gem shows different colors.
So it can be called pleochroic. It is possible in that case when the gem is strong blue or near to colorless.
Carat weight
Very large to very small sizes of Aquamarines are available in the market. The very large size may be up to 100 lbs which means 45 kgs.
It is difficult to use very large stones as jewelry. So the demand for large Aquamarine is less as compared to the small one. The cost for above 25 carats Aquamarine is decreased as per-carat price.
As per a record of 1910, a 244 lbs Aquamarine was discovered in Minas Gerais, Brazil. This is the largest Aquamarine.
Types of inclusions in Aquamarine
In the Aquamarine gemstone, the very interesting feature is inclusion. Hollow and long tubes are the main inclusions.
To identify as a beryl member, the particular feature helps.
Ilmenite, biotite, phlogopite, rutile, hematite, and pyrite in the skeletal crystals are the metallic and transparent inclusion that is present in the Aquamarine gemstone.
Crystals of cassiterite, garnet, apatite, and epidote, and muscovite like tourmaline and quartz can be also found in the crystals.
Irregularly shaped droplets of liquid that create the formation of a star also appear sometimes which are called snow-stars. The snow-star inclusion is notable in the Martha Rocha Aquamarine.
You might be interested:
Value of lab-grown Aquamarine
The mined Aquamarines are identical to the lab-grown Aquamarine. As compared to natural Aquamarine, the lab-grown stones are less rare, hence they are less costly and they have no mining required.
Either from natural or lab, heat-treated Aquamarine stones are disclosed with high temperature first.
Then to improve clarity grade and enrich their color, they have to be exposed to low pressure. If you search for an affordable and exquisite piece of jewelry of Aquamarine, then the lab-grown one is best for you.
Step To Follow Before Purchasing An Aquamarine
Identifying characteristics of Aquamarine
- Pick your desired Aquamarine gemstone shade
- For a more blue color, consider the heat-treated one
- Determine the carat weight you want
- Decide the required cut of Aquamarine
Identifying the quality of Aquamarine
- Buy a dark and rich hue for a higher stone quality
- Always search for an Aquamarine with no visible marks, bubbles, and inclusions
- To detect the blue topaz, always use a loupe of a jewelry
- By double-checking with your seller, you can avoid synthetic Aquamarine
Purchase making method
- You have to make sure of the certified jewelry
- If possible shop from a physical store instead of online buying
- If you want to buy from an online store, then identify a reputable jeweler and then buy
- To avoid scams, you have to evaluate the cost
Conclusion
Before buying an Aquamarine, always remember that the color of the most valuable stone is a deep sky blue. As compared to darker shades, lighter shades are less coveted. This is just a matter fo personal preference. The heat treatment can enhance the blueness and it is permanent. Most are naturally true blue. The oval and emerald-cut Aquamarines are high in quality. You have to ask the jeweler for an authenticity certificate (GIA) of the gemstone from whom you buy the Aquamarine. Always prefer a trusted and certified store. From the above article, hopefully, you find all the answers to your question and make up your mind to buy an Aquamarine.
