Aquamarine earrings set in hallmarked six prong sterling silver settings with sterling silver butterfly earring backs.  The aquamarine weigh between .35 and .50 carats.  Their origin is Brazil.  Their clarity grading is between VS to VVS.  Item arrives in a gift box with 1" X 1" anti-tarnish tabs.

The word aquamarine is Latin for water of the sea.  Aquamarine is so named because of its seawater colour.  A dark blue is the most desired colour.  The colouring agent in aquamarine is iron.  Lower qualities are heated to 725 - 850 degrees F to change them to the desired, permanent aquamarine blue.  Higher heat will lead to discolouration.  Colours can be improved with neutron and gamma irradiation, but those changes do not last.

The most important deposits are in Brazil, spread through out the country.  The well known deposits in Russia seem to be worked out.  Other deposits of some commercial significance are in Australia, Mogok, China, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and the United States.

Aquamarine can be confused with euclase, kyanite, topaz, tourmaline, zircon and glass imitations.  Synthetic aquamarine can be produced but is uneconomical.  The "synthetic aquamarine" sold in the trade is really aquamarine-coloured synthetic spinel.

I put all my blue topaz and aquamarine together and used a Chelsea filter to pick out the aquamarine.  Using the Chelsea filter, aquamarine views as a greenish-blue, while blue topaz views as yellowish, near colourless or a pale flesh colour.  Otherwise, the blue topaz and aquamarine can be indistinguishable with the naked eye.  The second exam I use with the aquamarine is with a Hanneman Gemological Aqua Filter.  This can then show if the aquamarine is a spinel, sapphire, tanzanite, zircon or benitoite.  The Hannemen filter set cost me $80.95.  I was taught by my gemologist, its not what you see, but what you don't see that can lead to identification.

I am always happy to answer your questions.  Thank you for visiting.