Aquamarine: Water of The Sea

Its name says it all: Aquamarine comes from the Latin for "water of the sea", and the gem lives up to it in every way. With colour and clarity that echo the near-perfect transparency of the ocean, its beauty has long captivated both collectors and those who simply love fine jewellery.

Blue is the world's most beloved colour, prized above all for its calming, soothing quality — and among every shade of blue found in nature, none carries quite the serenity of Aquamarine. As the sparkling birthstone for March, Aquamarine spans a gentle range of hues, from soft pastel blue to pale green, its tones evoking the freshness of an invigorating sea breeze.

From Brazil's Mines to Africa's Gemfields

Coloured by trace amounts of iron, Aquamarine is a member of the Beryl family, whose members also include Emerald, Bixbite, Goshenite, Heliodor and Morganite. Its colour ranges depending on the relative concentration and location of iron within the Beryl crystal structure. While noted for its excellent clarity, inclusions are more prevalent — and more accepted — in the more intensely coloured stones.

Brazil has been the world's major supplier of Aquamarine for decades, and the famous Marambaia area remains one of the most important sources of fine Aquamarine anywhere. Today, however, several African nations — including Nigeria, Mozambique, Zambia and Madagascar — provide an equal, if not greater, supply of similarly beautiful stones.

The different shades of Aquamarine are distinguished by their own names. "Santa Maria" refers to the rare, intensely deep blue Aquamarine found in the Santa Maria de Itabira mines of Brazil. Since 1991, very similar colours have been found in certain mines in Africa, particularly Mozambique, where they have come to be known as "Santa Maria Africana".

Another Brazilian beauty is the deep blue "Espirito Santo", named after the Brazilian state where it is found. Another beautifully coloured variety takes its name from a 1954 Brazilian beauty queen: "Martha Rocha".

Recognised as a gem-producing country since Portuguese colonial times, Mozambique has become increasingly visible in the global gem community, largely thanks to the excellent quality of its Aquamarines, which continue to be found and mined across the country.

Aquamarine Facts

Aquamarine: March’s birthstone

Origins: Brazil, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania & Zambia

Colours Found: Pastel blue to bluish green

Family: Beryl

Hardness: 7.50–8.00

Refractive Index: 1.56–1.60

Relative Density: 2.68–2.74