Aquamarine Pendant

For a Showstopping Look, Wear an Aquamarine Pendant

Have you ever stared in amazement at the sparkling gems in the store window of a high-end jeweler? Famous gems like the Hope Diamond are prized for their size and beauty. These spectacular pieces are one-of-a-kind, and many are on display at museums. If you are looking for a sparkling piece that calls to mind the famous beauty of these gems, wear an aquamarine pendant. Truly an eye-catching statement piece, a pendant made with this blue stone is sure to turn heads wherever you go.

Aquamarine, in particular, is sometimes found in incredible sizes. Gems have been found weighing several hundred carats or more. These unbelievable gems are far too large to be worn. The largest-ever aquamarine, mined in Brazil, measured more than 19 inches long. It weighed 243 pounds – or more than half a million carats! Its blue hue was so crystal clear that an object on one side of the gem could be seen clearly on the other side. You can see a 13-pound piece of this stone in the American Museum of Natural History. A 879.5 carat step-cut aquamarine, cut from the same stone, resides at the British Museum of Natural History. As for the rest of this amazing gem, it was cut into smaller stones to create more than 200,000 carats of jewelry.

Perhaps the most famous aquamarine, a huge crystal known as the ‘Dom Pedro,’ was also found in Brazil. It weighed in at 57 pounds. In 1992, this stone was cut to create stunning jewelry by the gemstone designer Bernd Munsteiner, and this gem became known as the largest aquamarine ever to be cut. Another enormous aquamarine, the Hirsch Aquamarine, is a fancy emerald-cut gem weighing nearly 110 carats. This 100% natural gem is known for its a perfectly aquatic blue color. It has been set into a pendant by the House of Louis XV. This exquisite aquamarine pendant, which also features 118 diamonds surrounding the central stone, is set in 18K white gold.

While white gold or platinum settings are commonly used to bring out the crystal-clear blue of aquamarine, there are also famous examples of aquamarine set into yellow gold. This often causes the aquamarine to take on a blue-green tone. The Smithsonian museum has an aquamarine ring on display as a “treasure from the vault.” This 52 carat aquamarine ring is set in an unusual mount, with ribbons of yellow gold floating above the gem’s corners. Round diamonds surround the central aquamarine. This ring is a custom, one-of-a-kind design, though the date and jeweler are unknown.

Aquamarine, known in the gemstone world for its natural blue hue, is found in shades ranging from light, icy blue to a green-blue suggesting the turquoise seas on a tropical beach. These natural variations lead to a stunning range of aquamarine pendant styles. Special gemstones recognized by their intense, blue color are known as Santa Maria aquamarines, after the Brazilian mine where they are found. These are considered some of the finest aquamarine stones ever mined. Similarly colored stones from Mozambique are known as the Santa Maria Africana. Whether you love a light, icy blue, a more intense hue, or a turquoise or green-blue stone, aquamarine offers a full range of blue tones to complement any style.

While these famous stones are much too large to make practical jewelry, you can enjoy the beauty of this ‘true blue’ gem by wearing an eye-catching aquamarine pendant. A beautiful, crystal clear aquamarine pendant will call to mind the stunning beauty of these famous gemstones. Because aquamarine is often found in such large sizes, it is a popular gem for the creation of showstopping pendants, instantly recognizable by their large size and oceanic blue hue.