Aquamarine

What is Aquamarine?

Aquamarine is the blue to blue-green variety of Beryl, the same mineral that Emerald belongs to. Its chemical composition is Be3Al2Si6O18, and the soft blue colour comes from small amounts of iron in the crystal lattice. Aquamarine grows in cavities of Granite and in Pegmatites, where mineral-rich fluids slowly form hexagonal, elongated crystals. Some crystals grow remarkably large and clear, with characteristic vertical striations on the side faces. With a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, Aquamarine is a sturdy, wearable stone that is excellent for jewelry. The colour ranges from almost colorless pale blue to a deeper sea green, depending on the source and the iron content.

Meaning and History of Aquamarine

The name Aquamarine comes from the Latin aqua marina, meaning sea water, a direct reference to the clear sea-blue colour of the stone. Since antiquity, Aquamarine has been linked with water and the sea. Roman and Greek sailors carried the stone on board as a talisman for a safe crossing and a secure homecoming. It was believed that Aquamarine could calm the anger of the sea god and bring storms to rest. The Greeks carved intaglios from it, and in other cultures seals and small decorative objects were made from the stone. That age-old bond with calm water and safe journeys echoes in its modern symbolism: Aquamarine stands for calm, courage, clear communication and emotional flow.

Physical Properties Aquamarine

On an energetic level, Aquamarine is valued above all for its cooling and calming presence. The stone is seen as a soother of tension: where things feel rushed or overheated, Aquamarine can help lower the inner temperature. Many people experience the energy of the stone as a refreshing wave that makes the head clearer and the body lighter. After a busy, stressful day, Aquamarine can support the release of built-up tension, so that calm and breathing space return. The stone is also used for restlessness and a hurried feeling, to return to a calmer rhythm. In this way Aquamarine acts in a natural way as an energetic breath of air that gently invites you to relax and breathe anew.

Please note: gemstones can offer support on an emotional and energetic level, but are never a substitute for medical or professional care. If you have any complaints or concerns, always consult your physician.

Aquamarine and Communication

Aquamarine is the stone par excellence for moments when you want to express yourself clearly. Where nerves make your words falter, the soft energy of the stone helps you say calmly and honestly what you mean. Wear an Aquamarine pendant at throat height during a difficult conversation, a presentation or a job interview, so the stone rests close to your Throat Chakra. A tumbled stone in your hand offers something to hold on to when you have to speak in front of a group. If you want to prepare a difficult conversation, hold an Aquamarine, breathe calmly and bring to mind clearly what you want to say. Many people find that words come out more easily and calmly afterwards. In our collection of Aquamarine stones you will find tumbled stones and rough pieces in various sizes.

Spiritual Properties

Spiritually, Aquamarine is a stone of flow and surrender. Like water that always finds its way, it invites held-back emotions to move rather than to be bottled up. Aquamarine opens the heart and the throat, so that feeling and word connect and you dare to share what is really going on inside you. The stone is valued for releasing old fear, grief or guilt, and helps you move through those emotions more softly and clearly. Aquamarine also supports courage: not the hard, forced kind, but the quiet courage to stay true to yourself. For sensitive people, the stone can help to sort out overwhelming emotions, so you feel more clearly what is yours. In this way Aquamarine brings movement, honesty and calm where feelings have become stuck.

How to Use Aquamarine?

• Wear Aquamarine as jewelry, for example one of our Aquamarine bracelets or Aquamarine pendants, so its calming energy travels with you all day.
• Place a rough piece or tumbled stone on your bedside table or workspace to ease restlessness and calm the atmosphere.
• Hold a stone on your chest or throat during meditation and breathe calmly, so feeling and word come into connection.
• Take an Aquamarine with you when travelling as a stone of courage and safe homecoming, just as sailors once did.

Types and Varieties of Aquamarine

• Santa Maria: a trade name for Aquamarine with a deep, intense blue colour, originally from the Santa Maria de Itabira mine in Brazil. This rich tone is considered especially sought after.
• Espírito Santo: Aquamarine from the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo, known for a clear, soft blue colour.
• Maxixe: a rare, deep blue Beryl whose colour can fade on exposure to light, and which is therefore named separately.
• As a member of the Beryl family, Aquamarine is closely related to Morganite, Heliodor and Emerald, which share the same crystal structure but differ in colour.

Beautiful Gemstone Combinations

Rose Quartz

Rose Quartz stands for softness and love for yourself, and beautifully complements the calm working of Aquamarine. Where Aquamarine opens the heart and throat to share, Rose Quartz adds warmth and gentleness. Together they support you in speaking honestly and lovingly, even about vulnerable things.

Amethyst

Amethyst is the stone of calm and stillness and strengthens the soothing side of Aquamarine. Where Amethyst quiets a busy mind, Aquamarine lets bottled-up emotions flow more softly. This combination is lovely in periods of tension, restlessness or poor sleep.

Moonstone

Moonstone resonates, like Aquamarine, with water, feeling and intuition. Where Aquamarine makes emotions clear and speakable, Moonstone brings you closer to your inner voice and emotional life. Together they form a soft, flowing duo for emotional balance.

Recognizing Genuine Aquamarine

Aquamarine is regularly imitated with blue glass and confused with cheaper or treated stones such as blue Topaz. With a few practical checks you can get quite far. First look at the colour: natural Aquamarine has a soft, slightly greenish sea-blue tone, while glass and heavily treated imitations often show a vivid, electric blue that looks too even. Then look at the inclusions: real Aquamarine often contains fine, needle-like inclusions or small irregularities, while glass is either flawlessly clear or contains round air bubbles. Also feel the temperature: natural stone stays cool and warms up slowly in your hand, while glass becomes lukewarm much faster. Finally, be critical of large, perfectly clear stones at a remarkably low price. At Kristalmeester we only sell natural Aquamarine. 

Properties

• Hardness: 7.5 to 8 (Mohs scale)
• Density: 2.68 to 2.74 g/cm³
• Composition: Be3Al2Si6O18
• Crystal structure: hexagonal
• Colour: pale blue to blue-green

Locations

• Brazil
• Pakistan
• Afghanistan
• Mozambique
• Madagascar
• Nigeria
• Zambia
• Russia
• United States

Zodiac Signs

Pisces

Pisces is a sensitive water sign that feels deeply and sometimes drowns in emotions. Aquamarine helps Pisces to sort and clarify that stream without pushing the feeling away. This keeps this dreamy sign closer to itself.

Aquarius

Aquarius carries the water and loves honesty and clear ideas. Aquamarine supports Aquarius in putting those insights into words calmly and clearly. This makes the message come across more purely and calmly.

Libra

Libra seeks harmony and often finds confrontation difficult. Aquamarine gives Libra the quiet courage to say honestly what is needed, without losing balance. This keeps conversations open and even.

Chakras

Throat Chakra

The Throat Chakra revolves around communication and expressing yourself clearly, and this is the Chakra Aquamarine resonates with most strongly. The sea-blue stone helps release tension from the throat, so your words come out more calmly and honestly. This makes it easier to say what you really mean.

Heart Chakra

The Heart Chakra is the centre of feeling, gentleness and connection. Aquamarine opens this Chakra gently, so bottled-up emotions can move and the heart gains room again. In this way the stone supports the release of old grief and fear.

Third Eye Chakra

The Third Eye Chakra is the centre of intuition and clear seeing. Aquamarine brings calm and overview, so your feeling and reason work together better. This helps you distinguish more clearly what you truly feel and need.

Care

With its hardness of 7.5 to 8, Aquamarine is an easy stone to care for. You can clean it briefly under lukewarm running water: pat the stone dry afterwards and do not let it soak for hours. If you want to cleanse it energetically, you can also pass the stone through the smoke of Sage or Palo Santo, or place it on Hematite Chips overnight to discharge. Be careful with sunlight: the blue colour of Aquamarine can fade with prolonged, bright sun. Therefore do not charge the stone in direct sunlight, but choose soft moonlight, for example on the windowsill during a full moon. This keeps the sea-blue colour beautifully preserved.

More information about the cleansing and charging of gemstones can be found in our blog "The cleansing and charging of gemstones".

Frequently Asked Questions about Aquamarine

What does Aquamarine mean?

The name comes from the Latin aqua marina, meaning sea water, after the clear sea-blue colour of the stone. Aquamarine mainly stands for calm, courage, clear communication and emotional flow.

Can Aquamarine get wet?

Yes, Aquamarine can be cleaned briefly under lukewarm running water. Pat the stone dry afterwards and do not let it soak for hours.

Can Aquamarine be placed in sunlight?

Preferably not, because the blue colour of Aquamarine can fade with prolonged, bright sun. Therefore charge the stone in soft moonlight rather than in direct sunlight.

Which Chakra is associated with Aquamarine?

Aquamarine resonates most strongly with the Throat Chakra, the centre of communication. Through the Heart Chakra and the Third Eye Chakra it also supports emotional flow and clear insight.

Where is the best place to put Aquamarine?

On your bedside table or workspace, Aquamarine helps ease restlessness and breathe more calmly. Worn as a pendant at throat height, it supports you in speaking clearly and honestly.

Summary

Aquamarine is the soft blue to blue-green variety of Beryl, coloured by traces of iron. Since antiquity the stone has been linked with the sea, from sailors who carried it for a safe crossing to the symbolism of calm, flowing water. On an energetic level, Aquamarine cools and calms: it eases tension, lets emotions flow and supports clear, honest communication. It resonates with the Throat Chakra, the Heart Chakra and the Third Eye Chakra, and suits Pisces, Aquarius and Libra beautifully. Clean it briefly under lukewarm water and charge it in moonlight, away from bright sun.

If you have any questions about Aquamarine, please do not hesitate to contact Kristalmeester. We are happy to help.