What Determines the Price of Aquamarine?

Generally, the rarity and diversity of a gemstone determine its pricing. In other words, it’s the supply and demand of the stone that determines its worth.

For example, diamond is a far more popular stone than any other gemstone. It has a higher demand, and its extraction and refining processes are equally intensive, making it one of the most expensive gemstones of all time. 

Are aquamarine stones rare? Not particularly, and their mining process is neither too easy nor too intensive. Still, some aquamarines cost $100 per carat, while others cost $8000 per carat.

So, what determines its pricing? Let’s dive in.

How Much Does an Aquamarine Cost?

Aquamarine is generally considered a cheaper stone–it’s widely available and easily refined. If you’re looking to get a mesmerising piece of aquamarine jewellery in Australia and are on a budget, you can count on aquamarine to do the job.

Still, there are categories of aquamarine in terms of pricing. These are:

• Cheap: $400 per carat to $650per carat
• Mid-range: $1000 percarat to $2000 per carat
• High-end: $5000 per carat or more

What Determines the Price?

Now, let’s explore the factors that classify aquamarines under different price ranges.

The Four Quality Factors

Like any other gemstone, the four Cs are the prime factors that tell the quality of aquamarine and determine an aquamarine’s price. These are:

• Colour
• Clarity
• Cut
• Carat

A top-notch, high-end aquamarine has the following characteristics (with respect to the four Cs):

• Colour: blue
• Clarity: free of inclusions, scratches, and internal fractures
• Cut: Emerald, Barion, or Oval
• Carat: twenty-five carats or less

Another type of aquamarine that costs a fortune is aquamarine with a cat-eye effect, which is among the rarest of aquamarines out there. An aquamarine with a cat’s eye effect features neat parallel inclusions–when a light beam enters these stones, it brings about a white horizontal sparkle when you turn it in different positions. Overall, the look resembles that of a cat’s eye. Because it’s a rarity, this kind of aquamarine is more expensive (despite the inclusions).

With that said, a mid-range aquamarine has the following characteristics:

• Colour: blue-green (the body of the stone is blue with green highlights)
• Clarity: these may have a tiny inclusion or two
• Cut: oval, round, cushion, or rose

As for the cheap variants, they have the following characteristics:

• Colour: sea green
• Clarity: may have more than one microscopic inclusion or internal fractures
• Cut: oval, round, pear, cabochon, or step

Note that we haven’t mentioned the standard characteristics for carats for both mid-range and cheap variants. This is because if we assess the worth of aquamarine in terms of carats, smaller aquamarines cost more. For aquamarines above twenty-five carats, the price decreases per carat as such big stones are only used for decor.

The colour standard is another noteworthy aspect here–although the core colour of aquamarine is sea green, traces of green are considered undesirable. Gemologists and jewellers heat the stone to get rid of yellow impurities that bring about green highlights in the stone, because the majority of people love and prefer a deep blue aquamarine, rather than a sea green aquamarine.

Brand and Origin

Apart from the four Cs, the brand and origin of aquamarine also play a role in its pricing. Established and renowned brands sell the best quality aquamarine, and they charge for the top-notch quality of the stone they sell, as well as their brand name. 

The place of origin of an aquamarine stone also impacts its pricing. Currently, the most popular sources of this mesmerising stone are Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Russia, Brazil, Pakistan, Myanmar, and the United States.

From what we know, the best specimens of aquamarines come from Pakistan, Brazil, and Namibia. Lower-quality specimens are coming from the United States and Myanmar.

Related Symbolism

A lesser-known factor that influences the price of aquamarine is the related symbolism. Every gemstone has a metaphorical meaning and associated symbolism that adds to its value. Generally, aquamarine symbolises youth, happiness, and hope, as well as harmony, tranquillity, and peace. In ancient times, it was believed that aquamarine protected the sailors of the sea. 

Today, however, various cultures and religions regard it for different properties. Some associate aquamarine with historical events, while others cherish it for its healing properties. Therefore, any price elevation due to symbolism is subject to the region and the respective brand’s vision.

Final Thoughts

To sum it up, the value of aquamarine is subject to several factors. The most crucial ones are its colour, clarity, cut, and carat; however, the related symbolism and brand name are also considerable factors. Of course, our jewellery experts at Holloway Diamonds are ready to help guide you through the process of finding the perfect aquamarine for you!