Aquamarines come in a variety of blue shades, but the most popular is a clear, ocean blue.
Aquamarines are beautiful blue stones that are extremely hard. They are generally found in South America and are quite popular in "modern" jewelry. They are frequently used as art as well as more traditional jewelry. Aquamarine jewelry has some very unique possibilities as well as being a background for a stunning gem.
Instructions
1. Ask about the origin of the aquamarine and the jewelry separately. Aquamarines come from many places in South America, but the best ones tend to come from Brazil. The Santa Maria de Itabira mine in Brazil is known for its flawless, beautiful blue aquamarines. The stones may also come from Mozambique in Africa. If the stone is not from either of these continents, it is likely grown. However, this can be ameliorated or accentuated by the gem cutter who designed the look of the stone. Aquamarines are very hard which makes them ideal for artistic cutting. A famous gem cutter may have designed your stone, in which case the jewelry will still be in high demand.
2. Factor in artistic merit. If a gem is cut in a unique and difficult way, that will dramatically increase the value of the jewelry. Also consider the piece of jewelry as a whole and what kind of statement it uses the aquamarine to make.
3. Determine the number of unique views of the stone. If your stone's main value is its artistic cut, then you will want a piece of jewelry that enables viewers to appreciate every angle of the design. A raised or "floating" setting will likely show off your aquamarine to its best advantage.
4. Check the setting. Raised settings can be more precarious for the stone. Check the prongs under a jeweler's lens to make sure they are holding the stone firmly. You may wish to get a second or third opinion about the security of your stone if the setting is particularly unusual.
5. Rate the color. Aquamarines come in many shades of blue from a light, sky blue to a deep, clear ocean blue. Your personal preference should decide what color you select. Generally, lighter colors are less expensive, but it is very important that they have few or no flaws. Darker blues can actually benefit from flaws as a skillful gem cutter can incorporate them into the facet pattern in a way that makes the stone even more brilliant.
Tags: Aquamarines come, come from, your stone, beautiful blue, clear ocean, clear ocean blue