(PRESS RELEASE) Most aquamarines are eye clean making color one of the most important value factors. The name of aquamarine comes from the Latin word for “sea water”. The body color ranges from greenish-blue to blue-green, usually in light tone. Many aquamarines in the market have been heat-treated to obtain a rich, intense color, therefore clean, unheated blue aquamarines with good saturation are highly sought after due to their rarity.
The AIGS Santa Maria color code applies to aquamarines, a variety of beryl, with blue color and medium saturation without brown or yellow tints. Aquamarines with low saturation, low clarity and dark tones do not meet the criteria. The trade name originates from the typical color aquamarines from the Santa Maria de Itabira mine in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The legendary mine has produced large quantities of fine color aquamarines, but is now almost depleted. The AIGS code Santa Maria refers to color only and not geographic origin.
Brazil is one of the most important aquamarine sources and the best aquamarines from Brazil have brilliant blue color, high clarity and good crystal forms. Afghanistan, Pakistan, Mozambique, Nigeria, Zambia, Madagascar, Myanmar and China also produce aquamarines.
“The launch of the Santa Maria color code is yet another important initiative after launching our Jedi spinel reports last October. Trade names such as Pigeon Blood and Royal Blue have been used for centuries by gem traders to describe ideal colors implying value and rarity. Yet these trade names are often ambiguous with definitions varying between buyers and sellers alike. By transforming trade names into an industry standard through reports graded by third-party objectivity, AIGS aims to reduce such ambiguity,” says Kennedy Ho, chairman of AIGS.
Sample of AIGS Santa Maria Aquamarine grading report. (Image courtesy AIGS)
