Aquamarine

Beryl is a gemstone that ranges in color from pale blue to white, while aquamarine does not range and has its namesake color. While no one is certain how the name “beryl” was derived, it is believed to have come from the Greek “beryllos” used in reference of blue-green crystals in general. Pliny in his Natural History described the beryl of first order as “pure green of the sea” which a translator’s note calls mountain-green and the beryl of fifth order as "aeroides" which Webster’s dictionary defines as sky-blue. Beryl itself can be found in giant crystals up to meters in length, but the varieties of beryl are actively sought after. Jewelers often mistaken the two beryls, one owing its color to oxide of chrome and the other to oxide of iron; however, both are from the smaragdine family and found in places where emeralds can be found: Siberia, India, and Brazil have long histories of production from alluvial deposits Aquamarine found in the United States is produced for the environmentally conscience by small-scale mining. The red variety of beryl found in the Wah Wah Mountains is considered an exceptional since it can not be found in granitic pegmatite.

Aquamarine has been revered in the West as the birthstone for March since 1912 and has the reputation in the East as the gemstone of purity; for these reasons, it is given to brides at their weddings. The beryl was believed dire-gifted for a bride by Dante Rossetti in his ballad Rose Mary, and this belief in a lucky stone as an ill-omen is contrasted to those reported by Camillo Leonardi who wrote about the beryl as Pliny had, except he said, "It renders the Bearer of it cheerful; preserves and increases Conjugal Love." Beryl was reported by him to kindle fire when rolled in a ball and was regarded as the Stone of the Seer and Mystic by modern sources; its inclusion of water was thought to be especially useful to those with Scorpio in their chart


Clairvoyants may want to use beryl because the crystal was reported by John Aubrey to have tinctures of red, by which one may see visions. Why red rather than blue is unknown. The beryl he described as a perfect sphere at least one inch in diameter and set in silver was attached a ten inch handle. The device of his reports was called a Brille. Dante Rossetti wrote about the beryl, saying


"With shuddering light twas stirred and strewn /

Like the cloud nest of the wading Moon /

Freaked it was as the bubble’s ball /

Rainbow hued through a misty pull /

like the middle light of a waterfall"


After being haunted by the spirits within, Rose Mary destroys the beryl with a sword. In deed, aquamarine and beryl are good for finding something blue. It must be said, as a variety of beryl, aquamarine was thought to protect married people from slander; it was also used as an amulet against idleness, sickness in mariners, as well as a talisman to sharpen the intellect.

Aquamarine can form perfect mineral specimens. Some are considered masterpieces. The stunning sky-blue color of aquamarine can be the result of heat treatment, however, since natural aquamarine often has a dullish pale green color. The range of color of aquamarine can be dramatic. The vibrant blue color of one aquamarine may be in contrast to the imperceptible color in another aquamarine. The name simply applies to the quality of specimens regardless of saturation. Fracture free aquamarine is considered by geologists to be affordable. Translucent aquamarine can be tumbled or cut into beads or cabochons. The natural form of the crystal may be highly valued by collectors, the less transparent crystals may be cut into cabochons for jewelry marking, yet the primary use for aquamarine in jewelry making is as a pendent stone. Aquamarine can be found in almost any jewelry stone although it can be similar to other gems like apatite, tourmaline, and topaz. The color, durability, and size of aquamarine will give it an edge over its competitors; however, choosing a setting that will protect the gemstone from impact is recommended. Larger stones will offer the most opportunity for dark, blue color. Smaller gems with of faint blue color are common for mined aquamarine because synthetic, heat treated, and irradiated varieties tend to maximize the dark blue color.

  • Pliny the Elder was an Italian historian who died near Pompeii in 79AD. His books on natural history were used throughout the Middle Ages as a reference and compilation of knowledge. As Western science emerged from the medieval period, mistakes were discovered in his compiling of information, and these were based on errors in reading original authors. His Natural History has since been credited as the first encyclopedia.

  • Dante Gabriel Rossetti was born in London then joined the Royal Academy in 1844 becoming a full student a year later. As a student, he considered two career paths: one in artwork, another in painting. In August 1848, he founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood then finished his translation of Vita Nuova in October. The following year in March he exhibited his first oil painting titled, The Girlhood Of Mary Virgin. According to the Encyclopedia Brittanica, he treated religious and medieval topics with sincerity and realism. Rose Mary, a poem focusing on a golden beryl that haunts his protagonist, may be found in his collection of poems Ballads And Sonnets published in 1881.