Aquamarine Engagement Rings
&
Wedding Bands

Aquamarine engagement rings are prized for their depth, luster, shine and strength, and aquamarine gemstones offer an affordable and stunning colorful alternative to white diamond rings.

Below you will find the physical properties of aquamarine, common enhancements, price guides and shopping tips for aquamarine wedding and engagement rings.

Aquamarine Properties:

Durability = Excellent
Hardness = 7.5 – 8.0
Refractive Index = 1.577 – 1.583
Specific Gravity = 2.72



Enhancements:

Natural aquamarine is commonly heated to remove any yellow or green colors to enhance the blue tones. This treatment is so common, and impossible to distinguish from natural pure blue aquamarines, that most blue aquamarine gemstones are labeled as ‘probably heat treated.’

Special Care:

Due to the excellent durability of this gemstone, aquamarine wedding rings require no special care.

Price Guide for Aquamarine Engagement Rings and Gems:

The price of aquamarine gemstones varies widely, but an average price per carat of aquamarine is $35 dollars. The value of aquamarine can dramatically increase or decrease according to the stone’s clarity, color, and cut.

Highly valued aquamarines have an excellent clarity with absolutely no blemishes, a deep blue color, and a premium cut. The carat size of an aquamarine has almost no effect on the stone’s value; aquamarine is often discovered in enormous sizes, some stones weighing well over 100 pounds, and as a result it is possible to buy a huge aquamarine for a price similar to a much smaller stone.

The darker blue aquamarines are valued at higher prices than the lighter blues, but many consumers looking for aquamarine rings prefer the lighter blue gemstones. Natural aquamarines that have not been heat treated, and which retain their original green tint, have also become increasingly popular in recent years - although as of yet their value is no higher than the enhanced or natural blue aquamarine gemstones.



A valued featured of a quality aquamarine is a visual star-like quality that is the result of long hollow tubes located inside the stone. The long hollow tubes are a common characteristic of gemstones in the beryl family, and when enough of these tubes are present they enhance the light reflective qualities of the gemstone. Aquamarine gemstones which achieve this starry effect are known as "cat’s eye" - the even more dramatic, and rare, "star aquamarine" attains sheer brilliance, and both the cat’s eye and the star aquamarines are valued at higher prices.

One of the most sought after aquamarines, the ‘Santa Maria Aquamarine’ comes from a mine in Brazil known as the Santa Maria de Itabira. The ‘Santa Maria Africana’ aquamarine has a similar color as the Brazilian ‘Santa Maria’ but comes from Mozambique.

Price and value of aquamarine engagement rings and wedding bands will also depend on the metal used to create the rings. Platinum aquamarine rings are priced the highest, followed by gold aquamarine rings and sterling silver aquamarine rings.

Aquamarine Meaning :

The meaning of aquamarine is found within its name - which means ‘sea and water’ in Latin. It is believed that the aquamarine will protect the wearer from the effects of nefarious liquids including rough seas, drowning, and poison.

Aquamarine is also a favored gemstone of lovers; this stone is believed to resonate with feelings of love, and sweethearts may offer the gift of aquamarine in the belief that the stone will imbue the wearer with their affections.



This is the birthstone of March, and it is also the birthstone for the Pisces horoscope sign which is a fish.

Shopping Tips for Aquamarine Engagement Rings:

Aquamarine engagement rings and wedding bands are an excellent choice for gemstone wedding rings. Aquamarine gemstones come in a variety of shapes, shades of blue, sizes, styles, and cuts. Due to the stone’s strength and physical properties, jewelers are always experimenting with new types of cuts that will feature an aquamarine in unique and stunning designs.

While plenty of quality aquamarine wedding rings are available, shoppers still need to be savvy about their purchase. There are currently no synthetic aquamarine gemstones on today’s market, but some stones are falsely labeled as aquamarine gemstones.

Some of these false labels include:

• "Synthetic Aquamarine" which is synthetic blue Spinel.
• "Brazilian Aquamarine" or "Nerchinsk Aquamarine" which is blue Topaz.
• "Mass Aqua" which is cut colored glass.
• "Siam Aquamarine" which is blue Zircon which has been heat treated.

Another aquamarine controversy surrounds the Maxixe Aquamarine. This type of stone was found in the Brazil Maxixe Mine in the early 1900’s; the gemstone’s deep blue center faded in sunlight, and as a result the mine was closed and the location subsequently lost. Some aquamarines are sold as Maxixe Aquamarines, but they are not from this source.

Beryl that has been treated with irradiation produces a deep blue aquamarine type stone and was named Maxixe Aquamarine; these gemstones hit the market about 30 years ago, but their color also fades easy in the sunlight.

Fortunately most Maxixe Aquamarines have been taken off the market, but some are still around. If you happen to find a very deep blue aquamarine that does not have good reflection and brilliance, and it is priced low, chances are that you have come across a so called Maxixe Aquamarine.

Keep in mind that aquamarines are valued for their color (deep blue is higher valued), clarity (clear with no blemishes), and cut (custom cuts are higher valued); carat has little to do with the gemstone’s overall price.

If you are purchasing aquamarine engagement rings, purchase your rings through a reputable company that offers at least a 30-day return policy. If you are unsure of whether or not you have purchased a ring with a real aquamarine or if the gemstone in the ring has a quality cut, have a professional jeweler take a look at the ring.

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