| Everyone is familiar with emerald, one of the four | | | | 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale -- emerald has always |
| traditional precious gems. But many people don't | | | | been regarded as a somewhat delicate gem due |
| realize that emerald is a member of a notable | | | | to its many inclusions. Emeralds are usually oiled to |
| gemstone family called beryl. The other, less | | | | fill fractures and improve their color. Aquamarine, |
| famous, beryls include aquamarine, morganite, | | | | on the other hand, requires no special treatment |
| golden beryl and bixbite. | | | | and is suitable for all kinds of jewelry, including |
| It's fair to say that the delicate blue-green | | | | rings. |
| aquamarine is the second most famous beryl, | | | | The intensity of color and the clarity of the stone |
| though not the rarest. Bixbite, the red beryl, is | | | | are the most important criteria when evaluating |
| extremely rare and is found in only a few | | | | aquamarine. Deep blue aquamarines are rare and |
| locations in Utah and New Mexico in the USA. | | | | command higher prices in the world's gemstone |
| Aquamarine is found in most locations where | | | | markets, though deep blue aquamarine is still a |
| ordinary beryl is found, including Brazil, Australia, | | | | pastel blue. Unlike other gems, aquamarine is not |
| Burma, China, India, Kenya, Madagascar, | | | | diminished by lesser intensity of color -- many |
| Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, USA, | | | | people actually prefer the more crystal clear |
| Zambia and Zimbabwe. | | | | lighter gemstones to the deeper colors. You will |
| Though aquamarine and emerald belong to the | | | | find aquamarine in a wide range of shapes and |
| same family, they are surprisingly different. They | | | | cuts. |
| are both beryllium aluminum silicates. Where | | | | Aquamarine derives its name from the Latin term |
| emerald is colored by trace amounts of chromium | | | | for seawater, and has a long tradition as the |
| and and/or vanadium, aquamarine is colored by | | | | sailor's lucky stone. The Greeks and the Romans |
| iron. But while emerald has have essentially the | | | | knew aquamarine as the sailor's gem, ensuring the |
| same specific gravity and refractive index, | | | | safe and prosperous passage across stormy |
| emerald tends to be quite hazy and included, while | | | | seas. Legend has it that aquamarines were the |
| aquamarine typically has excellent transparency | | | | prized possessions of mermaids and thus would |
| and clarity. | | | | would protect sailors from danger, including |
| Though the beryls are quite hard gems -- rating | | | | warding off sea sickness. |