Aquamarines are beautiful blue gemstones that look amazing when paired with other types of stones or on their own. We know you love them too (we can see you searching for them!) and we often get asked whether we work with them.


The answer, in short, is that we do, but you won't find them in our ready-to-ship rings. We can work with them in our bespoke pieces, but not without telling you everything you need to know about this gemstone first.



aquamarines are part of the beryl family


Sitting alongside morganites and emeralds, aquamarines are also part of the Beryl family of gemstones, meaning they have the same 'vitreous lustre' and have a look of glass. 


Due to the blue/green colour of aquamarines, folklore often tells of the stones being connected to the sea, with 'aqua' being latin for water and 'marine' meaning the sea. 



they're not as hard as sapphires


On the MOHS scale of gemstone hardness, an aquamarine would rank at a 7.5 or 8. Sapphires rank at 9 and diamonds are a 10. This means that aquamarines can be worn every day, but care would need to be taken in order to protect the stone from cracks and nicks. 


A way to protect the stone is to set it in gold or platinum, or surround it with a diamond halo to offer maximum protection.



they're often very clear


Unlike gemstones such as diamonds, sapphires and emeralds, it's quite common to find aquamarines that are clear and don't have visible inclusions. This is because aquamarines are often found in big original stones, meaning they can be cut down without inclusions.


Prices depend on the depth of purity and clarity, however it's quite cost effective to purchase larger stones as the original stones are so large to begin with.



they're budget-friendly


If you're looking for a larger stone to sit in the centre of an engagement or right hand ring, aquamarines can be a good choice as they are cost effective for larger stones. The prices of larger aquamarine stones aren't too much more than a smaller stone, therefore they're a good choice if you're looking for something that will stand out from the crowd.



the best aquamarine alternatives


If you like the look of an aquamarine, but aren't sure on its durability, there are lots of alternatives that can give the same effect. 


Diamonds, a 10 on the MOHS scale, come in a similar blue/green lustre as aquamarines and have the maximum durability meaning they can last for a lifetime. 


Similarly, sapphires, a 9 on the MOHS scale, can be found in a lighter blue colour particularly when mined in Sri Lanka. 


Both of these gemstones are great alternatives to aquamarine if you're looking for a gorgeous blue stone you can wear every day!