Aquamarine and Aqua-Hued Fine Jewelry, Curated with Intention
When it comes to aqua gemstones, aquamarine comes to mind for its iconic aqua hue. Yet it is not the only captivating aqua colored stone to consider for your intentional jewelry collection!
Tourmaline, sapphire, zircon, and topaz can also exhibit similarly lush hues!
SHOP AQUAMARINE + AQUA-HUED GEMSTONES:
INTENTIONAL FINE JEWELRY
MEET RESPONSIBLY SOURCED GEMS: AQUAMARINE, TOURMALINE, AND ZIRCON
As your personal jewelry concierge, this “Sparkling Tasting” of aqua-hued gemstones is meant to surprise and delight with gorgeous possibilities. We’ll also explore what responsible sourcing means.
During an intimate gathering among a group of women, three beautiful aqua-colored gemstones were passed around the table.
As each stone made its way around, guests learned about the unique, elemental qualities of each gem.
The fun part?
Guests were invited to guess “who is who” among the aqua-hues… and you can too!
Whether you are the CEO of your household, an industry changemaker, or the chairwoman of the board, I help you intentionally invest in fewer, better things that align with your values - ensuring you feel confident, seen, and powerful.
HERE ARE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT AQUAMARINE AND HER GORGEOUS DOPPELGANGERS
Aquamarine can exhibit a range of blue hues and is a “cousin” of emerald - both are varieties of the beryl family.
The most plentiful specimens have a pale blue or slightly greenish-blue, but the most valuable are those with an intense, deeply saturated blue or greenish-blue. Santa Maria aquamarine from Minas Gerais, Brazil is the most prized for its pure, deep color.
Zircon is an incredible natural gem that is less widely known - and celebrated by those who do!
Unfortunately, it has a similar name as the lab-created diamond imitation cubic zirconia and they could not be more different!
What collectors love about zircon is a luster and fire comparable to diamonds and another distinctive quality: birefringence, a fuzzy or double vision effect. Zircon’s hues can be colorless, yellow-golden, red, brown, green, and (most valuable) blue!
Tourmaline can also dazzle with a vast array of hues in every color of the rainbow! In the realm of blue-hued tourmaline, this can be an electric blue of Paraiba to seafoam leaning towards green, to saturated teal hues of indicolite.
Also noteworthy…
Sapphire can also exhibit aqua hues. It is often known as a royal blue gemstone, but it can be any color except red, which would make it a ruby!
Montana sapphires can have a range of blue hues as can sapphires from Madagascar, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka. Depending on the minerals present during their creation, they can be light blue to seafoam green to dark teal. They can also be bi-color or color change!
Topaz as it comes out of the earth is often colorless. Most blue topaz in the market has been heat-treated to attain that iconic aqua blue. It can also be other colors from golden yellow-orange to brown to the saturated oranges, pinks, reds, and purples, known as “Imperial topaz”. The deeper the hues, the more valuable and desirable.
Let’s take a look at three breathtaking traceable gemstones: aquamarine, zircon, and tourmaline (not in that order).
GUESS WHO IS WHO OF THE AQUA HUES?
GEMSTONE A
Madagascar
1.10 carats
GEMSTONE B
Namibia
2.81 carats
GEMSTONE C
Cambodia
3.18 carats
THE AQUA-HUES REVEALED…
In the world of AQUAMARINE vs TOURMALINE vs ZIRCON, which is your favorite?
The most important distinction: Beyond what the market dictates, whatever color, cut, or size of stone that is uniquely beautiful to you is what matters most.
If you would like to make one of these gemstones yours for a bespoke piece or are seeking aqua-hued jewelry that honors your personal story, let’s connect!
Create an INTENTIONAL LAYERING NECKLACE
What to know about ETHICAL GEMSTONES and GOLD to ensure your jewelry is NOT FUNDING CONFLICT
What Does RESPONSIBLY SOURCED Mean?
A sample report outlining details of a single Nomad’s gemstone, as well as the history of origin and traceability story.
This is an example of a proprietary provenance report that demonstrates Nomad’s commitment to transparency, trust, and traceability. Beyond the descriptive details about each gemstone, the report discloses the history of the origin and a specific gemstone’s journey to their cutting wheel. Nomad’s developed 4 levels of traceability - from Level 1, acquired through direct “mining partnership”, to Level 4 acquired through a dealer in an “open market” with the origin being determined by a gemstone laboratory.
In the same way that we know where our food is from and who made our clothes, why not jewelry?
Responsible sourcing goes beyond ethically or sustainably sourced. This encompasses conflict-free, traceability, protecting people, their skills, and the environment be it land or sea. This is an open, evolving conversation worth having, as we all seek to make choices that align with our values.
As much as possible, the designers in this community do their best to choose jewelry “ingredients” that honor this.
Gemstones can be responsibly sourced or post-consumer recycled (recovered from previously worn jewelry to be reset in a new design).
For precious metals, this can mean using recycled gold - or a step further is mercury-free Fairmined gold.
What is FAIRMINED GOLD?
As we make ethical choices with Fairtrade wine, food, and fashion, why not the gold in our jewelry? Let’s compare recycled gold versus Fairmined gold…
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS about Investing in Aquamarine & Aqua-Hued Jewelry
What defines “investment-quality” aquamarine, and how does All The Brilliants ensure this standard?
Investment-quality aquamarine exhibits an intense, deeply saturated blue or slightly greenish-blue. The more intense, pure, deep color, the higher the value.
While aquamarine can be sourced Africa, India, Pakistan, and the Americas, the most celebrated material is from the (closed) Santa Maria mine in Brazil.
Investment-worthy gemstones of any kind will have laboratory reports from GIA or other equivalent gemological reports for authenticity and value assessment.
How does your luxury jewelry concierge service assist in finding the perfect aquamarine or aqua-hued piece for my collection?
As your intentional fine jewelry guide, I help you find responsibly sourced pieces that tell your story, elevate your style, and align with your values. Our luxury jewelry concierge service begins with a private consultation to understand your aesthetic preferences, wardrobe needs, and any specific investment interests for your collection.
I curate two to three ready-made designer pieces for your consideration. If it does not exist, we will create a bespoke piece made just for you!
Can you help me acquire a specific type of aqua-hued gemstone, such as a Santa Maria Aquamarine or a rare Indicolite Tourmaline?
Absolutely.
Our expertise includes access to coveted and rare gemstones of any kind or color.
My vetted gemstone partners are leaders in responsible sourcing, so you can feel confident that your investment also aligns with your values, be it climate action or supporting UN Sustainable Development Goals.
THE BRILLIANT CONCIERGE: JEWELRY THAT WILL ELEVATE YOUR STYLE AND CONFIDENCE
As your fine jewelry guide, I help you invest in aqua-hued pieces designed with intention and connection or luxury jewelry gifts for your wife or partner. In addition to private shopping, our private one-on-one styling service for:
rings and engagement rings
earrings
necklaces
bracelets
responsibly sourced gemstones
Discover how I helped a client find a birthday gift for his special someone and what it’s like working with this highly specialized service.