AQUAMARINE

The  gorgeous light blue color of aquamarine arouses feelings of trust,  harmony and tranquility. It is also the color of water with its  life-giving force. According to legend it originated in the treasure  chest of mermaids and is regarded as the sailors' lucky stone. Its name  is derived from the Latin 'aqua' (water) and 'mare' (sea), and according  to the old traditions it promises a happy marriage and is said to bring  the woman who wears it joy and wealth.  Aquamarine  is related to the emerald, both belonging to the beryl family.  Aquamarine has a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, making it  fairly resistant to scratches. Iron is the substance that gives  aquamarine its color, a color which ranges from pale blue to a gorgeous  deep blue. The more intense the color of an aquamarine, the more value  is put on it. 

The rare, intense blue aquamarines from the  Santa Maria de Itabira mine in Brazil, which make every gemstone  lover's heart beat faster, are called 'Santa Maria'. Similar nuances  come from a few gemstone mines in Africa, particularly Mozambique. To  help distinguish them from the Brazilian ones, these aquamarines have  been given the name 'Santa Maria Africana'.  

There is hardly any other gemstone in modern jewelry design which is  more loved by the designer and wearer alike.  Cut or uncut, it can be  refined to produce the most beautiful creations. It is one of my  favorites as well, as attested to by the great number of stones and  jewelry designs in my stores.  I search out that Santa Maria blue, as  well as other color variations.