Two of the most popular gemstones on the market are Blue Topaz and Aquamarine. Both of these stones reflect a brilliant blueish- green color. A favorite to jewelers and consumers for centuries. While these two gemstones may be practically impossible to tell apart with the naked eye, there are some significant differences. These differences may make you decide to purchase one stone and not the other.
Blue Topaz
Blue Topaz is commonly referred to as the jewel of love and loyalty. Its name comes from the root word Topazos. Topazos was a primordial island in the Red Sea. It has been associated with many healing properties, as it has been believed to hold cleansing powers for the soul. Blue Topaz can be found naturally, but it is quite rare and the hue of the blue is usually very faint. Traditionally, Topaz is mined, irradiated and heat-treated to obtain its brilliant blue color. For this reason, Blue Topaz is a relatively affordable gemstone. Blue Topaz can be mined naturally but its hue is usually faint and not nearly as glamorous as Aquamarine. Topaz is traditionally the birthstone for November.
Aquamarine
Aquamarine is one of the most desirable gemstones next to diamonds. It comes from the beryl family, which includes popular stones such as, Emerald and Morganite. Aquamarine comes from the Latin phrase, “water of the sea”. This most likely comes from its blueish- green color and is very prominent in Roman and Greek mythology. Aquamarine stones has the healing energy of the ocean and are used by amulets or talismans for good luck, eternal happiness and fearlessness. The deeper and more vibrant the color of an Aquamarine the more valuable it is. Aquamarine is typically the birthstone for March babies.
Aquamarine is considered much more valuable than Blue Topaz for many reasons. First, most Blue Topaz on the market has been treated to obtain that vibrant blue, where Aquamarine acquires that hue naturally. This leads to an influx of Blue Topaz, where naturally occurring Aquamarine is much rarer. Both stones score well on the Mohs scale (a scale from 1-10 used to determine the density of minerals). The Aquamarine comes in at 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale, while Blue Topaz is an 8. This means both minerals are relatively hard and resistant to scratching making them suitable for everyday wear. However, Blue Topaz has perfect cleavage, which means it is susceptible to fractures when faced with a forceful impact.
Blue Topaz vs Aquamarine – The Verdict
Deciding which stone is most suitable for you depends on a few factors. If price is of no concern, then Aquamarine is certainly your stone as it is considered a much more desirable commodity because of its naturally occurring state and rarity. If you are on a tight budget, Blue Topaz may be more suitable for you. To this point, it is important to be very careful and only purchase certified Aquamarine stones because many fraudulent jewelers sell Blue Topaz as Aquamarine.
