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Santa Maria Blue Aquamarine treatment

I love aquamarine, but it's a toughie as far as treatments are concerned, which is why I don't buy it. Low-temp heating is, to my knowledge, undetectable. So many vendors will advertise them as untreated. The heat is used to drive off the green tones to create a bluer stone. So I suspect that some are heated and some are natural. But we really can't be sure. Then there are irradiated stones, often called "maxixe beryl," which sort of mimic the "santa maria" colors. But it's unstable and eventually fades. So, I don't know. I think you really need to put a lot of trust in your vendor with this stone. The heating doesn't bother me so much, but I'd definitely want to avoid the irradiated material.
 
Autumn in New England said:
I love aquamarine, but it's a toughie as far as treatments are concerned, which is why I don't buy it. Low-temp heating is, to my knowledge, undetectable. So many vendors will advertise them as untreated. The heat is used to drive off the green tones to create a bluer stone. So I suspect that some are heated and some are natural. But we really can't be sure. Then there are irradiated stones, often called "maxixe beryl," which sort of mimic the "santa maria" colors. But it's unstable and eventually fades. So, I don't know. I think you really need to put a lot of trust in your vendor with this stone. The heating doesn't bother me so much, but I'd definitely want to avoid the irradiated material.
Click to expand...

Yes that’s what I’m thinking - I have read that heating is normal and accepted but I wasn’t sure how commonly they are irradiated.
 
Autumn in New England said:
I love aquamarine, but it's a toughie as far as treatments are concerned, which is why I don't buy it. Low-temp heating is, to my knowledge, undetectable. So many vendors will advertise them as untreated. The heat is used to drive off the green tones to create a bluer stone. So I suspect that some are heated and some are natural. But we really can't be sure. Then there are irradiated stones, often called "maxixe beryl," which sort of mimic the "santa maria" colors. But it's unstable and eventually fades. So, I don't know. I think you really need to put a lot of trust in your vendor with this stone. The heating doesn't bother me so much, but I'd definitely want to avoid the irradiated material.
Click to expand...

Which is more durable, aquamarine or zircon? I have several blue zircon but I worry about wearing them.
 
CaseyLouLou said:
Which is more durable, aquamarine or zircon? I have several blue zircon but I worry about wearing them.
Click to expand...

Aqua does edge out zircon in terms of durability. Gem quality beryl is about an 8 Mohs. Zircon ranges from 6 to 7.5. Neither has cleavage, but zircon tends to be a bit more brittle (so you have to watch for chips, etc.). But that wouldn't stop me from setting and enjoying zircon. I have the brown one I intend to set in a ring! It does require a little more care though.
 
CaseyLouLou said:
Which is more durable, aquamarine or zircon? I have several blue zircon but I worry about wearing them.
Click to expand...
The laws of the universe have prevented me from chipping a pink zircon that I don't particularly care for!!!! It's definitely because I don't love it though. I would have thought it was quite durable had I not known what it was!
 
Just to add to the info on this thread, I did some research and found this GIA article. I also found some listings of stones that look very similar in color and clearly state that they have been irradiated and the color may not be stable. These seem to be called ‘blue goshenite’ or ‘maxixe’. Or just blue Beryl.

I do think there are at least two sellers on Etsy (both sellers from Pakistan) that are claiming their product to be heat only ‘Santa Teresa’ type aquamarine from Brazil. I asked if they were irradiated and it was flatly denied but from what I can tell the color is an unusual blue that is identical to these other irradiated ones. The clarity of the ones on Etsy seems higher but maybe they are starting with better stones to begin with.

GIA article:

Another article:

Blue Beryl (Maxixe) gemstone information

The web's most comprehensive and regularly updated gemogy database with information on gems from around the world and thousands of photos
www.gemdat.org

This listing says irradiated:
www.gemrockauctions.com

7.45 Carat Natural Aquamarine (Goshenite) Gemstone~ SKU ~ 3

Aquamarine 13.5 x 10.4 x 8.9mm 7.35 cts Auction #1659767 Gem Rock Auctions
www.gemrockauctions.com www.gemrockauctions.com
 
CaseyLouLou said:
Just to add to the info on this thread, I did some research and found this GIA article. I also found some listings of stones that look very similar in color and clearly state that they have been irradiated and the color may not be stable. These seem to be called ‘blue goshenite’ or ‘maxixe’. Or just blue Beryl.

I do think there are at least two sellers on Etsy (both sellers from Pakistan) that are claiming their product to be heat only ‘Santa Teresa’ type aquamarine from Brazil. I asked if they were irradiated and it was flatly denied but from what I can tell the color is an unusual blue that is identical to these other irradiated ones. The clarity of the ones on Etsy seems higher but maybe they are starting with better stones to begin with.

GIA article:

Another article:

Blue Beryl (Maxixe) gemstone information

The web's most comprehensive and regularly updated gemogy database with information on gems from around the world and thousands of photos
www.gemdat.org

This listing says irradiated:
www.gemrockauctions.com

7.45 Carat Natural Aquamarine (Goshenite) Gemstone~ SKU ~ 3

Aquamarine 13.5 x 10.4 x 8.9mm 7.35 cts Auction #1659767 Gem Rock Auctions
www.gemrockauctions.com www.gemrockauctions.com
Click to expand...

In all my years, I never heard of, " ‘Santa Teresa," Aquamarine. Didn't know peyote cactus grew in Pakistan. Maybe I should move...???
 
I prefer my Aquas light blue with a hint of green, and they are unlikely to be irradiated due to not being in demand as the "ideal" Aqua colour.

DK :))
 
Only buy aquamarine from a trusted vendor that knows their source very well. Aquas are not only commonly irradiated (which fades in color over time), but they are also synthesized, and highly convincing.
 
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