Aquamarine: Real Mermaid Treasure

Legends say that aquamarine came from the treasure chest of mermaids. It’s not far from the truth! Aquamarine has been around for centuries throughout history and for good reason! First let's dive in and learn about how this gem got its name.

Aquamarine comes from it’s name in Latin which translates to “sea water”. It is also a member of the mineral beryl family because of the composition of beryllium aluminum silicate. The beryl family includes: emerald (which we will go into further in detail) and morganite. Now, lets learn about this stunning gem’s history.

Photo credit GIA.edu

Ancient Greeks and Romans admired its beauty and even attributed its existence to their gods. Poseidon is said to have made it out of seawater (hence how we get that gorgeous color). Romans looked to aquamarine to turn enemies into friends, and help foresee the future. The gem was referred to as the sailors gem and the first documented use was in Greece dating back between 480 to 300 BC!

Sea working men (Navy, traders, even fisherman) saw the stone as protection while working on the seas and would throw their aquamarine overboard as an offering to the gods to calm rough seas.

In the middle ages, aquamarine was rumored to protect its wearer from poisoning, which was a common concern at this time.

This was also the stone of Saint Thomas as he is the saint of Mariners. 

By the second century BC, Egypt began importing the jewel from India. While lapis was the prominent gem of ancient Egypt, Aquamarine became a symbol of happiness and everlasting youth.

Aquamarine is considered a lover's stone. In Buddhism, it is a traditional gift from a husband to his wife the day after their wedding because it was believed to promote a happy marriage. This could possibly be why more couples choose aquamarine and diamond rings to symbolize their engagement.

Aquamarine crystals can grow to large sizes and are equally blessed with excellent clarity. Colors can range from greenish blue to blue green in light tons. The color is more intense in larger gems. Aquamarine is the birthstone for March, symbolizing youth, wealth and hope.

You can find TONS of aquamarine in Brazil, which supplies the most aquamarine to the modern market.  Miners must climb steep paths to elevations of 9,800 to 13,000 to find these beauties.

Photo credit GIA

There are a number of famous aquamarine in collection. The Smithsonian holds the Dom Pedro Aquamarine. This is the largest faceted aquamarine at 10,363 carats!

Dom Pedro Aquamarine: Photo cred GIA

Let Therese create your mermaid loving good luck charm for your special someone. 

Check out tons of different cuts and styles on trudygems.com