A Sea Green Aquamarine

[lambskin]

I love aquas with the blue-green sea water color. The bright blues look like topaz to me. Your stone is stunning.

 

[prs]

I love aquas with the blue-green sea water color. The bright blues look like topaz to me. Your stone is stunning.

Thank you!

I think this was discussed in another recent thread, but in her written report, the appraiser we use insisted on describing the stone as "green beryl" rather than aquamarine.

 

[T L]

Was the appraiser a graduate gemologist?

Did they run tests on the stone?

 

[prs]

Was the appraiser a graduate gemologist?

Did they run tests on the stone?

Yes and yes.

As I understand it the the only difference between green beryl and aquamarine is the color. Apparently there are some perfectionists in the trade who believe that if a gem from the beryl family is predominantly green, it should be classified as green beryl. Obviously those perfectionists are not gemstone vendors!

 

[T L]

Yes and yes.

As I understand it the the only difference between green beryl and aquamarine is the color. Apparently there are some perfectionists in the trade who believe that if a gem from the beryl family is predominantly green, it should be classified as green beryl. Obviously those perfectionists are not gemstone vendors!

From what I hear, if the stone is blue or greenish blue and colored by iron, it is aqua. If it’s green and colored predominantly by chromium, then emerald, and if green and only colored by vanadium, green beryl, and I don’t know what the chromophores are for heliodor, morganite, or bixbite but they’re the other colors of beryl. Then goshenite is colorless beryl. Goshenite is often falsely sold as aqua.

Nice ring, no matter the moniker. Enjoy!

 

[lambskin]

So are emeralds not "emeralds" and are really 'green beryl"- technically?

 

[T L]

So are emeralds not "emeralds" and are really 'green beryl"- technically?

No, they’re emerald if the primary chromophore (chemical responsible for color) is chromium. Green beryl is colored by vanadium which is why they have barely any to no inclusions. Emeralds tend to be included because chromium puts stress on the crystal.

Zambian emeralds are colored by both chromium and vanadium, but the chromium is still present.

I have a true green beryl. It’s as clean as a whistle.

It should also be noted that extremely pale emeralds typically have less inclusions, because they have much less chromium, and therefore the color isn’t as saturated or rich. They should be priced very low.

The real rare stuff that’s super hard to come by is very dark, saturated material that is also clean with no enhancement . This is because the crystal is so stressed by the extra chromium, but it’s very clean. Those are the emeralds you see at the big auction houses.

 

[lambskin]

Wow TL thank you so much for the explanation. I love learning about gems and your explanation was really informative.

 

[prs]

FYI GIA also thought our stone was Green Beryl and not Aquamarine!

However changing the title of this thread to "A Sea Green Beryl" doesn't really appeal.

 

[T L]

I didn’t want to comment much earlier on the stone, because I really didn’t think it was an aquamarine. I’ve never seen an aqua that color, although I’ve seen greenish aquas. Now you know what it truly is.

 

[arkieb1]

So is it cheaper now that's it's not an aquamarine?

 

[T L]

So is it cheaper now that's it's not an aquamarine?

No, green beryl can sometimes be more expensive than aquamarine.

 

[prs]

So is it cheaper now that's it's not an aquamarine?

DW asked the same question!

No, green beryl can sometimes be more expensive than aquamarine.

Good answer T L!!!

 

[AV_]

Green Beryl are stones so beautiful they stand on their own without a name.