Aquamarine is the March Birthstone and the stone of 19th wedding anniversaries. The gem is a variety of Beryl, and a semi precious gem often used in jewellery. Deeper colours are highly prized and the stone is usually ‘eye-clean’; meaning it has no or very few inclusions and cracks. This is in contrast with it’s cousin, Emerald, which often has several flaws.
The History of Aquamarine
Aquamarine’s colour is a fun, mermaidy teal with a rich history. It comes in beautiful hues, ranging from pale blue to sea green. Along with it’s Latin name (which comes from their word for seawater) this has led to a long association with the ocean, and sailors. Some claimed they were from a legendary mermaid treasure trove, guarded by sea monsters. The Romans associated Aquamarines with love, and they were a common marriage gift. They were more recently used to make eye glasses in Germany. The gem was reportedly first used in 300 BC, and today, most aquamarines are mined in Brazil.
Mystical Properties
Aquamarines were thought to be mystical. There were legends about the stone having a calming influence over stormy seas. Celtic druids used polished aquamarine crystal spheres to divine the future. The aquamarine earrings above are from the Georg Jensen Sphere Collection. The range references the mythical properties of crystal balls and the gems’ legendary qualities. Sphere was by Regitze Overgaard, an accomplished goldsmith and designer with a bent toward magical realism.
Fittingly, this year’s 2017 Gala Jewellery set, inspired by the National Portrait Gallery, will be diamonds with Santa Maria aquamarines.