Discover The Fascinating Aquamarine Gemstone Meaning

Aquamarine Gemstone Origin

Aquamarine is a gemstone beloved for its delicate blue-green hues, part of the beryl family, which also includes emeral green and red rubellite varieties. The aquamarine gemstone origin story begins deep within the earth during volcanic activity when magma cools and solidifies.

Crystals of beryl, composed of beryllium aluminum silicate, form under high temperatures and pressure in mineral-rich environments, often influenced by tectonic plate movements. The blue-green color is created by trace elements like iron oxide, which absorb light wavelengths to produce the striking shade. This process occurs over thousands of years, with the crystals growing slowly in pegmatite formations within granite.

Aquamarine is often found in countries known for their rich mineral deposits, such as Brazil and Russia, where these geological conditions are prevalent. The gradual formation under specific environmental conditions contributes to its unique beauty and desirability among jewelry enthusiasts.

Aquamarine Metaphysical Properties

The aquamarine gemstone meaning includes its recognition as the “Mermaid Stone” due to its striking blue-green color resembling the ocean depths, is believed by many to possess calming energies linked to water.

Many lovers of the stone hold the belief in its ability to promote emotional balance and provide protection, especially for swimmers and those near water. Some cultures believe it enhances communication and clarity, aiding in resolving conflicts and fostering harmony. Often used in jewelry designs that evoke the mystery and tranquility of the sea, aquamarine is cherished as a gemstone that combines aesthetic beauty with spiritual properties, making it a timeless choice for those seeking both fashion and metaphysical connections to nature’s serene elements.

Aquamarine Gemstone Meaning

The color of Aquamarine is derived from traces of iron in the Beryl crystal structure.   The stone grows in long shards with a six-sided crystal shape.  Being a pleochroic (the property of certain crystals of exhibiting different colors when viewed from different directions under analysis), it shows different colors spectacularly.

The name Aquamarine derives from two Latin words, Aqua, meaning water, and Marina, meaning of the sea.   The first documented use of Aquamarine was between 300-480 BC when it was said that the stone was used in an Amulet for Poseidon the Greek God of the Sea. 

Aquamarine can be found in art made by the Greeks dating back thousands of years. The Romans believed it could cure medical ailments and associated the stone with Neptune, the King of the Sea. Neptune was known to give it as gifts to Mermaids.

Sailors believed that Aquamarine came from the Mermaid’s treasure chest, and they would throw aquamarine into the water as it was said to calm the Gods.  

The Egyptians and Sumerians believed it would freeze the radical aging process, keeping their youth and granting them happiness. The Egyptians also placed it with them for their journey to the afterlife.  As well as Brazil, Aquamarine is also found in Kenya, Afghanistan, Russia and other parts of the world.

How Big is BIG?

In 1936, the Brazilian President Getulio Vargas and his wife gifted a 1,298-carat Aquamarine called the Roosevelt to Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt.  It was from the Vargas private collection and from the Minas Gerais mine.  In 1947 Mrs. Roosevelt donated the magnificent Aquamarine to the Roosevelt Library.

The largest stone found is the Dom Pedro Aquamarine discovered in Brazil in the 1980s, named after the first two Brazilian Emperors, Pedro I and Pedro II.  All large crystals are immediately named when they are found.

From 1992-1993, the Dom Pedro Aquamarine was cut by Bernd Munsteiner (a third-generation master designer and gem cutter, trained by his father and grandfather), who studied the stone for many months. He did not focus on the carat weight; his only concern was to make something outstanding and rare. 

It took such great concentration that he would only work 2 hours at a time, taking almost 6 months to complete his masterpiece. He also incorporated his vision as part of this Aquamarine and added the name Ondas Maritimas, “Waves of the Sea,” and the remaining stone is 14 inches tall by 4 inches wide with a staggering gemstone weight of 10,363 carats (about 4.6 lbs). This beauty is on exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History.

Imagine sleeping next to such a large stone, or positioning it to catch the light as a focal element in your decor, perhaps a den or sunny living room.  I wonder if it influence relaxation on a hot day?  I envision drifting away, gazing at the beautiful tranquility of its cool blue beryl aqua tones.

Aquamarine Gemstone Symbolism

Today, the aquamarine gemstone meaning is valued as much for its beauty as the metaphysical properties so many hold to be true. Most popular of all, it is used to celebrate the 19th Wedding Anniversary, with its colors ranging from sea-foam green, blue-green, and teal.  The stone beloved for its limpid blue color gets this signature from two types of Iron, Ferrous and Ferric Iron.  

Ferrous Iron is responsible for the gorgeous blue, and Ferric Iron adds the splashes of green to the stone.   Most Aquamarine is heat-treated to remove the green, keeping the gorgeous blue hues it is most known for.   The deepest and rarest Aquamarine Blue is known as Santa Maria blue, in honor of Santa Maria de Itabira, the site in Brazil where the first such stones were discovered in the 1950s.  

In the United States, Aquamarine is the official State Gemstone of Colorado. The mountain peaks of Mount Antero and White Mountain in Colorado contain some of the finest-quality Aquamarine known. Aquamarine became the official gemstone on April 30th, 1971, by an act of the General Assembly. It is one of the most popular gemstones in the world, including its designation as the March birthstone.

The bluer or greener Aquamarine, the color is neutral and complements every skin tone.  A splash of this brilliant gemstone is always striking and can be worn all year round.

The cousins to Aquamarine are Emerald and Morganite–beautiful relatives.