Basic Introduction to Altai Aquamarine
Aquamarine belongs to the beryl family of minerals in mineralogy, with the English name Aquamarine. Here, “Aqua” means water, and “Marine” means ocean, indicating how aptly its name reflects its color.
The following types are common:
(1) Those containing chromium: Their color ranges from light to deep green, blue-green, or yellow-green beryl, which is highly prized as emerald.
(2) Those containing iron: They appear sky-blue or sea-blue and are known as aquamarine.
(3) Those containing cesium, lithium, and manganese: Their color is rose-red, known as morganite.
(4) Beryl containing iron that appears golden yellow or pale lemon-yellow is called heliodor.
(5) Beryl containing titanium and iron appears dark brown and is known as dark brown beryl.
(6) Colorless and transparent beryl is known as goshenite.
Nutritional Value
1. Westerners generally believe that wearing aquamarine can give one foresight.
2. Aquamarine corresponds to the throat chakra and is said to improve respiratory issues.
3. It can enhance communication skills and persuasiveness; however, even the most powerful gemstones can only play a guiding and supportive role when worn over a long period.
4. Containing earth, water, fire, and air elements, it has powerful healing, purifying, and spiritual powers, making it the most therapeutic crystal.
Product Features
Aquamarine primarily occurs in pegmatite deposits – granular albite-pegmatites. The world's most famous aquamarine deposits are found in Minas Gerais, Brazil; followed by Russia, China, and other regions. Common crystal forms are hexagonal prisms, secondarily hexagonal dipyramids, and aggregates often form in columnar structures. Transparency ranges from transparent to translucent. Refractive index is 1.567-1.590, with a birefringence of 0.005-0.007. Pleochroism is evident, ranging from blue to blue-green. It does not fluoresce under X-ray radiation. It has good toughness.
History and Folklore
In legend, a group of mermaids live in the deep blue sea. They use aquamarines as adornments, and at critical moments, they need only expose the gemstone to sunlight to gain mysterious powers.
Both East and West view water as the source of life, and March is the time when all living creatures on Earth become active. Therefore, the “water”-attributed aquamarine is designated as the birthstone for March, symbolizing calmness, courage, and wisdom. Westerners generally believe that wearing aquamarine can give one foresight.
Due to its close association with water, aquamarine has long been used as an amulet, especially by those who live their lives at sea, believing it captures the soul of the ocean. For centuries, sailors adrift on the waves have customarily used it to pray for the protection of sea gods for safe voyages, hence aquamarine is also known as the “Sailor's Stone.” In the movie “Pirates of the Caribbean,” if you look closely, you'll notice that many sailors wear blue gems around their necks, which are aquamarines.
In addition to ensuring safety, aquamarine is also known as the “Stone of Love.” In ancient Greek mythology, there was a wind god named Roland, handsome but of low status. He later fell in love with a mortal woman, which was forbidden in the divine realm. To remain faithful to his love, he sacrificed his life. Before dying, Roland begged Venus, the goddess of love, to seal his soul within an aquamarine as the birthstone for those born in March, to protect them in finding love. Therefore, people in Mediterranean countries like to wear aquamarines to ensure sweet love and marital bliss.
In medieval Europe, craftsmen would cut aquamarines into thin slices and fix them in specific viewing instruments, allowing nobles to see further distances—this may be the origin of telescopes. The clear and flawless aquamarine was often polished into mirrors, with some wizards insisting such mirrors could be used for divination.
With the development of science, beliefs about birthstones possessing magical powers to ward off evil and bring good luck have waned. However, as a cultural legacy and expression of hope, the custom of wearing birthstones will continue.
Identification of Genuine Altai Aquamarine
Evaluation and Selection
The criteria are color, transparency, and weight. Stones with deeper color, no flaws, and greater weight are considered superior. The characteristics of aquamarine are sky-blue or sea-blue, glass luster, few inclusions, clean, transparent, weak dichroism, and hexagonal prism crystal shape. Aquamarine is somewhat brittle, fears high temperatures, and can crack under high heat; it can also fade when exposed to fire.