Aquamarine (Beryl)
Date - Pricing as of April 2008

There are many types of Aquamarine and of course many types of pricing to go along with all the various types.

Color: Light blue to dark blue, blue/green to green/blue

Note: In lighter saturation materials as the stones become larger, say over 2 or 3 carats, there is not much increase per carat for the stones. In quality color(s) and saturation there should be a significant price increase as the finished stones become larger than 3 carats, in my opinion.

Note2: Generally most commercial aquamarine is heated to eliminate any green component and make the stones all blue. I personally think that Aquamarine is blue/green (like the Webster's definition) and that natural unheated blue/green color, particularly in the higher quality color should bring more money than heated blue.

Note3: There is some green/blue to mostly green/mint Beryl around occasionally. I would not call this material Aquamarine, but it is definitely not Helidore (no yellow component). So for the lack of a better place to list it I am putting this material on this page. This color is unusual and can be very pretty, I tend to price it in the middle cost range of what ever saturation it fits into. Some times towards the high price range depending on color because it is quite pretty and rare.

Mint - Light to light/medium mint (think Andes candy mint green), 60% green
Green/blue - Light to light/medium green/blue, 60% or more green.
Seafoam - Light to medium seafoam (think Andes candy mint green only bluer), 60% blue or more.
Blue/green - Light to dark blue/green, 60% blue or more.
Blue - Light to dark blue
Double blue - Dark to double dark (they call it in the trade)

Pale (almost colorless to 15% tone) - Pale to light saturation.
Comments - This material actually can be valuable, especially when cut into a large interesting design.
Pricing - In general pricing this material is some what dependent on size, the larger the stone the better the color shows. I generally price this material $24/ct to $90/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor.

Light (15% tone to 30%) - Light saturation.
Comments - This material actually is valuable and I sell it faceted quite well, especially when cut into a large interesting design.
Pricing - Pricing this material is still about labor in smaller sizes. I generally price this material $45/ct to $120/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor.

Light/Medium (30% tone to 45%) - Light/medium saturation.
Comments - This material is valuable and not always easy to acquire in larger sizes clean. I cut this material in the medium to large size ranges and typically use unique designs
Pricing - I generally price this material $42/ct to $165/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor.

Medium (45% tone to 65%) - Medium saturation.
Comments - This material probably about the best average range for Aquamarine/Beryl. I cut this material in small to large size ranges and typically use unique designs
Pricing - I generally price this material $90/ct to $360/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor.

Medium/Dark (65% tone to 85%) - This is what I would consider to be the top color range in Aquamarine, I would note that Beryl is very rarely more than 70% saturation if that, including double blue.
Comments - This material is valuable and difficult to find. I cut this material in the any size range and typically use unique designs.
Pricing - I generally price this material $145/ct to $650/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor.

Special - As we all know as cutters some times a stone just comes out "special" for what ever reason. On these kinds of stones I basically price how ever I feel like. Because this stone comes under the "special" category I often do not care if I sell the stone or not. So I usually price it high enough that if I do sell it, I get a very good price. Enough to make me say "Oh well..." and sell it. So be aware that some times I just price a stone high because I do not care if I sell it. Ironically these stones usually sell the fastest...

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E-mail to inquire or order: jeff@faceters.com