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Aquamarine

Named after seawater, aquamarine’s fresh watery hue is a cool plunge into a refreshing pool.

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Emerald Cut

This 3.36-ct. gem is an emerald cut, which is typical for aquamarine.

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Sea Blue

Aquamarine’s most valuable color is a dark blue to slightly greenish blue.

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High Clarity

Like all fine aquamarines, this gem is free of eye-visible inclusions.

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Mineral Specimen

This fine 3x3x7 cm aquamarine mineral specimen is from Balistan, Pakistan

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Columnar Form

The crystal shows aquamarine’s typical six-sided columnar form.

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Pencil Point

A collector might call this crystal a “pencil” due to the faces at its tip.

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Tools

Research

This flux-grown synthetic beryl crystal weighs 211.78 ct.
Flux-Grown Synthetic Beryl Overgrowth

Examination of a doubly terminated flux synthetic beryl crystal reveals inclusions of columbite, copper, and an air bubble within flux liquid.

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Hexagonal growth hillocks decorate the termination of this Pakistani aquamarine.
Quarterly Crystal: Hillocks on Beryl

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

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Red garnet crystal prominently featured in the faceted aquamarine.
Spessartine Garnet in Aquamarine

Aquamarine is faceted to display a red spessartine garnet crystal inclusion.

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Gem trading at Namak Mandi
Namak Mandi: A Pioneering Gemstone Market in Pakistan

Documents Namak Mandi’s transformation from a salt market to one of Pakistan’s primary gem trading centers, with a look at the commercial activities taking place today.

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A notebook, pen, mobile phone with compass app and a digital camera sit on top of a map.
Article
The Stories Behind the Photos: A Gigantic Aquamarine and ‘Gaudy’ Nature

Gemological photojournalist Robert Weldon shares the stories behind some of his favorite photos.

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Various mineral inclusions in beryl samples
Color Characteristics of Blue to Yellow Beryl from Multiple Origins

Discusses the features of alkali elements and their influence on the color of blue to yellow beryl.

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Three light-to-medium blue carved sculptures sit in a line – from larger to smaller.
Article
Making the Cut: The Art and Science of Fantasy Carving

Gem cutters - whether “gem whisperers” or mathematicians - create breathtakingly artistic individual gems and sculptures.

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A green-blue specimen was identified as Maxixe-type beryl.
Green-Blue Maxixe-Type Beryl

A transparent greenish blue pear-shaped gemstone, reportedly from Madagascar, is discovered to be a Maxixe-type beryl.

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Five aquamarines cut by Arnoldi International
Multi-Generation Cutting Family from Idar-Oberstein

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

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Aquamarine carving by Michael Dyber
Michael Dyber’s Innovative Gem Carving

Michael Dyber discusses his approach to gem carving.

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