Another member of the beryl family, aquamarine is a relatively hardy stone rating 7.5 on the Moh scale

Most are found in Brazil , but there are many other countries that produce aquamarine; Pakistan , Nigeria , Ukraine , Madagascar , Mozambique and Zambia . Easily recognizable from its name, this stone is primarily blue in color, though the difference of shades is very important, as it determines worth. Pale blue aquamarines are the least expensive in relative terms, the medium blue-greens cost far more and the most expensive are the deep ultramarine and cobalt colors. Clear and brilliant, this stone shows remarkable sparkle and clarity with great frequency. It's a fantastic choice for jewelry, widely available in small carat-weights and large carat weights (up to even 10 and 15 carats), and has kept its popularity throughout the years.

Often you will see a lovely blue gem tagged as aquamarine, when in actuality it is the cheaper varieties of blue topaz. Be sure to check the authenticity of the stone and if you have an aquamarine in your keeping, keep it well cleaned, as this is a finicky stone that loses much of its brilliance if dirty. If you can't afford aquamarine, blue topaz (properly priced, of course) is a good alternative. The usual price for authentic, good-quality aquamarine is about $80 to $2000 per carat for anything lighter than a 5 carat mark. Anything heavier than 5 carats can cost about $300 per carat weight.