Beryl
Aquamarine
- Mohs
- 7.5 – 8
- Colour
- Pale sea green-blue
- Every day
- Yes
Beryl — the same species as emerald
Aquamarine
Expensive relative to the others here, and worth it if the piece is meant to be worn every day for decades. Do not let anyone sell you a saturated blue aquamarine cheaply — that is usually heat-treated, which is normal and disclosed by honest dealers and hidden by the rest.
The facts
- Family
- Beryl — the same species as emerald
- Hardness
- 7.5 – 8 on the Mohs scale
- Colour
- Pale sea green-blue; the good material is quiet rather than bright
- Where hers come from
- Brazil, Nigeria, Madagascar
- What she pays
- £45 – £220 for a 7mm cut stone
- Everyday wear
- Yes
What will damage it
Almost nothing in normal wear. Ultrasonic cleaners if the stone has inclusions.
In a ring you wear daily
Yes