Aquamarine is the green-blue to blue variety of the mineral beryl.

Learn about the factors that make aquamarine so desirable.

The name “aquamarine” is derived from two Latin words: aqua, meaning “water,” and marina, meaning “of the sea.”

Ruby and sapphire (usually blue, but also in every other color) have been the most important colored gemstones for several thousand years. Originating historically in southeast and central Asia, and more recently in eastern Africa, these colored varieties of the mineral corundum have been much sought as gems because of their rarity, color and durability. Gem corundum can display asterism and chatoyancy due to the presence of oriented mineral inclusions, and in some cases, a change of color when viewed under different light sources.

The authors have encountered hundreds of polymer-filled aquamarines in the Chinese jewelry market.

In January 2012, aquamarine crystals containing interesting inclusions were extracted from the Ambatofotsikely area northwest of Antsirabe, Madagascar.

This article, from the Spring 1991 issue of Gems & Gemology, is a compilation of abstracts of important gemology-related articles published outside of Gems & Gemology.

A review of Gemstone Carvings: The Masterworks of Harold Van Pelt at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California.

From the Summer 1991 issue of Gems & Gemology, a summary of important gemology-related articles published in other journals.

A striking aquamarine specimen showed a strongly saturated secondary growth layer.

Alexander Arnoldi explains the strategy of Arnoldi International and provides an update on some new high-quality materials.

Hexagonal growth hillocks are observed on gem-quality aquamarine from Pakistan.