Aquamarine Beads
Aquamarine beads are blue to blue-green beryl, the same mineral family as emerald and morganite, colored by traces of iron. Most of the material cut into beads comes from Brazil and from pegmatite fields in Pakistan, Nigeria and Mozambique. This collection holds natural aquamarine, along with mixed beryl strands, in a range of finishes and shapes for bracelets, necklaces and earrings.
Appearance
The color runs from a pale, watery blue to a saturated sky blue, often with a faint green cast, and strands vary in how evenly the blue is spread. Santa Maria aquamarine is a trade name for the deep, slightly inky blue first found at Santa Maria de Itabira in Brazil. Multicolor strands mix blue, green and nearly colorless beryl, and beryl strands that combine aquamarine with pink morganite show the mineral's two most common gem colors side by side. Much of the material is lightly included or milky rather than clear.
Polished rounds show the color most evenly; a faceted cut adds sparkle and makes pale material look brighter; a matte finish turns the stone a chalky sea-glass blue. At 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, aquamarine is harder than quartz and well suited to everyday wear, though included material can chip if knocked hard.
Formation and origin
Aquamarine grows in granite pegmatites, coarse-grained veins that form in the last stages of a cooling granite, where beryllium concentrates in the leftover fluids. Traces of iron in the beryl structure give the blue; a second form of iron adds the green cast, and heating removes it. Brazil's Minas Gerais is the historic source, and large quantities now also come from Pakistan, Nigeria, Mozambique, Madagascar and Zambia.
Pairings
Peridot beads: two pale, transparent gem colors that sit well together, and peridot's yellow-green picks up aquamarine's hint of green.
Tanzanite beads: a violet blue that deepens the pale blue of aquamarine; both facet well and are usually cut small.
Green apatite beads: a teal that bridges aquamarine's blue and green; apatite is softer, so keep it out of rough wear.
Meaning and Metaphysical Beliefs
Aquamarine has long been linked with the sea. Roman sailors are said to have carried it for safe passage, and its name comes from the Latin for seawater. It is the birthstone for March. In modern crystal traditions it is associated with calm, clear communication and courage, and it is usually placed with the throat chakra. These are traditional beliefs, not claims of physical effect.
