According to legend, the aquamarine comes from the treasure chests beautiful mermaids and sailors protected from the wrath of Poseidon. Therefore sailors wore amulets of aquamarine with them, they quickly threw in a storm in the water to appease the Sea God. With water well of approximately 2000 years ago coined by the Romans name the gem has to do: It contains the Latin words "aqua" and "marinus" and means "water of the sea".
Aquamarine belongs to the gemstone family of beryl, which also the famous Emerald has spawned. He is very popular, not least because of its color, reminiscent of the sea and can range from delicate light blue to blue green to intense dark blue. Greenish and yellowish-green stones, which contain lower amounts of coloring iron take, when heated to 400-450 ° C for the coveted blue color. The deeper and more intense blue, the greater the value of a stone.
The most important aquamarine deposits are located in Brazil, especially in the fields of gemstone Minas Gerais. There the highest quality stones get such illustrious names like "Santa Maria", "Espirito Santo" or "Marta Rocha" (named after the Brazilian beauty queen 1954), and even there the largest aquamarine in 1910 found in gem quality: a handsome crystal 48, 5 cm length and weight 110.5 kg. Other important localities lie in African countries where the gem under the trade names "Santa Maria Afrikana" and "Santa Maria Afrique" is performed.
Aquamarine is preferably ground into rectangular or elongated oval shapes clouded stones as cabochon. If it contains fine inclusions, while the coveted cat's eye effect (Chatoyance) can be brought about in which a shimmering, extending perpendicular to the fibers of the stone light strip occurs and slides when moving over the surface of the stone. Even star-shaped light reflections (asterism) are möglich.
The aquamarine is used in the production of jewelery, as a protective and healing stone. He promises happiness, peace and faithful partnerships, is to help with colds and protect from sea sickness. To many people, he gives a feeling of calmness and serenity through his sea blue color.