With its beautiful blue colour and dazzling shine, it’s little wonder that Aquamarine has long been a popular choice for gemstone jewellery. Surrounded by myth and legend, with a long and winding history encompassing healing powers and romance, aquamarine is a timeless addition to any collection. And, as the birthstone for March, it’s not only Aquarians and Pisceans who are attracted to this stone…

Aquamarine Origin

A naturally occurring gemstone, aquamarine’s main mining locations are South America, Africa and some parts of Asia. It is most common in Brazil, but can also be found in Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan and Zambia.

Belonging to the Beryl family of gemstones, it is closely related to emeralds and morganite, though remains distinct for its clear blue colour.

History of Aquamarine

Taking its name from the latin ‘aqua’, meaning water, and ‘marina’, meaning of the sea, it’s easy to understand where its reputation as the gem of the sea originates.

Ancient Aquamarine

Dating back as far back as the Ancient Romans and Greeks, Aquamarine has held its place throughout the centuries as a much admired stone. Unofficially dating back even further still, it’s also been aligned with the ancient Gods – with stories claiming that the God of the sea himself, Poseidon, is made from it!

It is said that the Romans looked to aquamarine to help foretell the future, and turn enemies into friends. Later, in the Middle Ages, aquamarine was rumoured to protect from poisonings, which was a common concern of the time.

Gigantic gemstones

The largest aquamarine ever weighed in at a staggering 110kg, or 243lbs, and was found in Brazil in 1910. When this was cut down to smaller, faceted (or many sided) stones, they collectively weighed over 100,000 carats – that’s a lot of rings!

In the 1980s, the world’s biggest faceted aquamarine was found. Known as ‘Dom Pedro’, it is over 10,000 carats (10,363 to be precise) and is held at the Smithsonian National History Museum in Washington D.C..

Aquamarine in jewellery

Records date that aquamarine has been used in jewellery since around 500 BC. Its affiliation with the sea, aside from the aforementioned reputation and name, also comes from the fact it was worn by sailors, travellers and Naval officers as a talisman for safe seafaring, to protect against being shipwrecked and to ward off sea sickness.

Source: The Court Jeweller Pinterest

Aquamarine and Royals

Alongside its beauty, aquamarine’s protective qualities mean it’s a stone that’s been favoured by rulers and Royals for centuries. Many of those in positions of power have purchased aquamarine jewellery over the years.

It’s included in the Czech crown jewels, and even Queen Elizabeth II has an aquamarine parure, or set of matching jewellery. Given to her by the Brazilian government, as a stone so associated with the country, as a coronation present in 1953. So fond of the colour and clarity, HRH later had more aquamarine pieces added, including a tiara.

The Lover’s Stone

Aquamarine is often considered to be a lover’s stone. In Buddhism and Christianity, aquamarine is believed to promote a happy marriage. And, those of you who have been married for 20 years or more will recognise that it is the official listing of the 19th wedding anniversary.

Keeping tradition alive, Prince Harry gave his new bride Meghan Markle his mother’s emerald cut aquamarine gold ring on the day of their wedding.

Aquamarine is a perfect ‘something blue’ for your Big Day, and we are seeing more couples are opting for it as a unique engagement ring, and an alternative to clear diamonds.

Healing Qualities of Aquamarine

Throughout history, aquamarine has been favoured for its healing properties. In modern crystal healing practices, this stone is still widely used.

Due to its clarity, aquamarine has been used to clarify perceptions, sharpen the intellect and clear any confusion. Its relationship with the sea means it has long been associated with relaxation and soothing fears.

Aquamarine is linked to the throat Chakra, so it can help to encourage communication and is believed to help to soothe sore throats.

Aquamarine & Diamond Tennis Bracelet	Aquamarine & Diamond Three Stone Ring	Emerald Cut Aquamarine & Diamond Stud Earrings	Briolette Aquamarine & Diamond Pendant
£2,895	£3,300	£1,050	£9,850

Why choose Aquamarine for your jewellery?

Is aquamarine right for you? Well, as a stone steeped in history and healing properties, it’s also a pretty good investment too. Based on a 2019 study, it is estimated that some £15bn worth of aquamarines are sold commercially each year, with a 75% female share of the market female, though there has been a recent rise in male wearers.

Although not classed as precious officially (only Diamonds, Rubies, Emeralds and Sapphires are technically classified as precious), it is a semi-precious stone. Unlike its precious cousin, the Emerald, this means that aquamarine can be a more affordable option that doesn’t compromise on style or size.

As with any gemstone, it is important to consider the four Cs – colour, clarity, cut and carat – when choosing your aquamarine jewellery. For cut and carat, look for the shiniest and the biggest you can afford. With colours ranging from deep blue to greenish-blue, the deeper the blue, the better the quality of the stone.

Cry for the Moon Aquamarine Jewellery

With such a vast history and striking colour, we’re big fans of aquamarine jewellery at Cry for the Moon. From engagement rings, and wedding jewellery to cocktail rings and statement earrings.

If you’re looking for a March birthday gift, ‘something blue’ for a bride-to-be or just a new piece for your own collection, please feel free to get in touch or visit us in our Guildford shop.

We are often asked “what is the best or most popular shape of diamond?”

Through longevity, this has to be a modern round brilliant cut. Ever since Marcel Tolkowsky originally developed the modern round brilliant diamond, it has been modified and perfected over time. However, the diamond industry still uses Tolkowsky’s model as a guide of for the “ideal cut”.

Diamond Cuts

Round Brilliant Cut By far and away the most popular cut, accounting for more than half of all diamonds sold.A timeless classic, with sparkling brilliance showcasing the life and beauty of the world’s favourite gemstone.

Other cuts include:

Princess Asscher Pear Radiant Marquise Old Cut

Emerald Heart Oval Baguette Cushion Trillion

Of these cuts, Ovals & Pears are currently the in vogue and on trend. However, Princess, Asscher, Radiant and Cushion are also up there amongst the most popular choices. The square cut diamonds use more of the rough diamond, whilst a round cut can waste around 50% of the original material. In contrast, a square uses around 80% and also will weigh more than a round cut that has the same dimensions.

	Oval Cut Oval cut diamonds have the same makeup as round brilliant cut diamond with the same number of facets, and from side view appear almost the same. One big difference, referred to as ‘the bow tie effect’, where the cutting of the oval shaped is too shallow. This can display a small dark area in the center, which looks like a bow tie. Better cut ovals will not show this feature.
	Pear Cut Pear cut diamonds have become extremely desirable, and with a fine halo surround they particularly lend themselves to drops on earrings and pendants. These have been one of the most popular and highest selling products for at Cry for the Moon over the past few years. Originally developed some 700 years ago by Diamond cutter Lodewyk van Berquem, this unique cut of stone often causes much debate on which way it should be worn on the finger.
	Heart Cut Heart cut diamonds. A timeless symbol of love, a heart shaped diamond is a unique, special alternative to the more common diamond cuts. Heart shaped diamonds make up only a tiny fraction of the total number of diamonds sold every year, making a heart shaped diamond a unique, rare and special choice.
	Marquise Cut Marquise cut diamond is an elegant, elongated cut, and has the appearance of a larger stone when compared to other cuts. The wearer’s finger can appear longer and more slender with this cut, which is based largely upon the cut and facets of a round brilliant cut diamond.
	Emerald Cut The emerald cut was typically used to cut emerald stones, but is now a very popular cut for diamonds too. Consisting of 57 facets and boasting an elongated rectangular shape, the cut-off corners is said to display a calm beauty, instead of the brilliance and sparkle of round and cushion diamonds. You’ll see flashes of light in the emerald cut due to its linear, straight facets. A ‘Hall of Mirrors’ due to the flat open window. Only very clear and white diamonds are used for emerald cuts.

Other cuts and diamond shapes not listed include: baguette, tapering baguette, kite, bullets, trillions lozenge, bullets, eight cut, trapezoid and half-moons. These cuts are often used as side stones to accent a central larger diamond and not often seen alone. Each of these are generally purchased as pairs of stones, and the cost of cutting them is higher than many larger stones.

Old European Cut Old European cut diamonds and transitional cut diamonds can still be cut today, but most are found in jewellery dating back from 1940s or earlier. The old European cut was starting to be uniformed, with new technology and modern polishing developed from the early 1930s. These cuts can appear like modern rounds, but with perhaps less finesse than one cut with today’s methods. We personally love this cut as each diamond has a unique characteristic and an individual feel.

A selection of our diamond cut engagement rings

	Round Brilliant From just £685
	Princess From just £1,875
	Cushion From just £1,950
	Oval From just £1,150
	Pear From just £1,265
	Heart From just £1,265
	Marquise From just £2,250
	Emerald From just £1,265

View all of our diamond range

If you’d like to see more of our collection than we currently have on the website, please don’t hesitate to contact us today or come and see us in the shop. Our friendly team would love to help, and show the other pieces in our stunning diamond jewellery collection.

A gemstone steeped in history.

Amethyst: the birthstone for February and the 33rd wedding anniversary. An intoxicatingly rich, purple gemstone that has long been a favourite of Royals & the Church.

The name Amethyst comes from the Greek – méthystos (“intoxicated”), and have long been the subject of legend and myth, including perhaps the most famous – concerning mental health.

In Greek mythology, a titan named Rhea gave the god of wine, Dionysus, an amethyst to help preserve his sanity. In fact, this myth led the ancient Romans to believe that amethysts could keep them from getting drunk.

A variety of quartz

Amethyst was as expensive as Emerald or Ruby until the 19th Century when large deposits of it were discovered in Brazil and is now found in numerous countries, most notably Siberia, Sri Lanka and Brazil. Of all examples of amethyst the Deep Siberian is the most coveted and as such valuable. What sets the Deep Siberian variant apart is its rich purple hue, coupled with secondary blue and red hues.

The gemstone is a purple variety of quartz that is found in many locations around the world and forms as terminated crystals of all sizes inside geodes, clusters and as long single terminations.

Famous artefacts

The Delhi ‘Sapphire’ – is actually an Amethyst. It was incorrectly identified in the nineteenth century. It is said to be cursed since it was looted from a temple in Kanpur, India, during the bloody Indian Mutiny of 1857. It is now in the collection of the Natural History Museum in London.

The Tiffany Amethyst Necklace. A 56 carat square cushion cut Amethyst delicately surrounded by vines, leaves and grapes, designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany, circa 1915. Procured by George F. Kunz, chief gemologist at Tiffany’s at the time. It is a much larger and of higher gem quality than any others in the National Gem Collection from this Russian locality. It was then generously donated to the Smithsonian in 2007.

View our collection

The famous gemstone has been used in jewellery for centuries, and being a durable gemstone it can be used to form all types of jewellery. Ranging in colour from a subtle pale pastel to a gorgeous, rich velvety deep purple they can be easily set in all types of metal.

View more earrings, rings and pendants in our Amethyst collection. including:

Victorian Amethyst & Seed Pearl Necklace

Victorian 15ct gold amethyst and seed pearl necklace. Four Amethyst 2 smaller squares, 1 pear shape and larger rectangular measuring 12mm x 7mm with 24 seed pearls surround.

Price: £1,950

3.18ct Amethyst & Diamond Ring

Or alternatively this modern rectangular cushion shape, with chequerboard facets, 4 claw set in 18ct white gold, with 10 small round brilliant cut diamonds set on stepped shoulders 0.19ct total weight.

Price: £1,325

Contact us today

If you’d like to see more of our collection than we currently have on the website, please don’t hesitate to contact us today or come and see us in the shop. Our friendly team would love to help, and show the other pieces in our stunning gemstone jewellery collection.

When choosing a diamond, should you ever buy without a certificate?

Well, we could argue both yes and no.

Are all certified diamonds better quality than those not certified? No. Many lower-quality diamonds can be independently sold with a certificate, whilst others (for many reasons) will not. These aren’t necessarily inferior to those that are certified, just that they don’t have a laboratory’s printed out statement of their opinion.

We at Cry for the Moon have both, and we happily buy new and pre-owned certified and non certified diamonds.

It’s a much discussed subject, and as such, there are many different opinions surrounding it. The majority consensus is that you should purchase diamonds with a certificate, and that it should be GIA or HRD. It’s also often stated that certain laboratories should be avoided as they aren’t terribly accurate at best, and misleading at worst. Many jewellers provide and/or produce their own in-house variations, including none other than Tiffany’s… so it must be correct, right?

What is the standard?

Well, there is in fact no internationally recognised standard – and more importantly – no one body that regulates the independent labs for verification of grading quality. We aren’t suggesting that the laboratories are wrong, but a study published in July 2013 (page 74-75), by the NAG (National Association of Goldsmiths) and Gem-A (Gemology Association of Great Britain) (page 74-75) found great variations in the grading. Seven previously graded GIA diamonds were sent to six independent UK labs for certification, and the results were quite alarming. In many cases, both the colour and clarity results varied by a number of grades – which would likely alter the price by 20-25% at retail.

Perhaps GIA had graded some of the diamonds to a better standard now than they had 20 years ago, suggesting a softening in the required standard, or perhaps it is that the grading is slightly subjective, with the human factor not allowing 100% accuracy. Let’s face it, diamonds tend to speak for themselves – you don’t walk around with a piece of paper around your neck or in your handbag to show off the colour… and as soon as it’s worn it becomes dirty, affecting the colour and clarity anyway.

Where do we buy our diamonds from?

We have, for many years, purchased diamonds direct from our supplier in Antwerp who have their own source of approved, traceable diamonds that have up-held the Kimberly process. Kathy, Stephen & Harry (who choose and buy all our loose diamonds) have over 100 years of experience between purchasing and grading stock. We are extremely confident in our process of assessing and grading both new and loose diamonds, and happily supply our own valuation stating an honest opinion of the diamond’s grading.

Another point to bear in mind is that diamonds are graded against other diamonds, so the cut and proportions will affect the stone as much as other factors, which is why it’s very important to physically see the diamond for yourself and make your own decision.Be it certified or not, we have a fabulous range in stock at all times – in many different styles and designs across rings, pendants and earrings.

If you would like to see for yourself, please pop into our shop and ask one of our sales team to show you our stunning collection. Any one of the team would be happy to share knowledge on anything you might like to know – to help you make up your own mind. Buying a diamond should always be an exciting, romantic and pleasurable experience. Contact us today to book your appointment, or simply come in to the shop.

If you’re lucky enough to have been born in March, you’re lucky to have a birthstone as lovely as aquamarine. This beautifully clear, pale-blue to sky-blue stone has a magical appearance of a summer sky, or a clear blue sea. This, perhaps, is why it was a favourite with sailors, believing it would bring them calm seas and oceans.

Aquamarine is part of the beryl family, closely related to both the emerald (which is green), and morganite (a pink / rose gold coloured gem).The colour variations are from the small amounts of chromium in emeralds, manganese in morganite and small traces of iron in aquamarines.

The most sought after aquamarines are often referred to as Santa Maria, in reference to a specific mine in Brazil that produced rich green / blue coloured stone, which is now almost exhausted. Brazil remains the world’s leading source of gem-quality stones, and the stones are still referred to as Santa Maria, even if they are not from this mine.

Found in both pegmatites (within rock) and alluvial deposits, outside of Brazil the leading sources of aquamarines, are:

• Afghanistan
• Kenya
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Mozambique
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Russia
• Tanzania
• Zambia

Similar to Emerald

Unlike emeralds, this gemstone is very often extremely clear and free from inclusion. It is also the same hardness on the Mohs scale (7.5 – 8), so it is a durable gemstone for jewellery… as long as it is treated with care, to protect against scratching and hard knocks.

HM Queen Elizabeth II has perhaps one of the most fantastic collections of Aquamarine jewellery. During her coronation trip in 1953 the people of Brazil gifted her a beautiful set of glistening diamonds and aquamarines in the form of a necklace with matching pendant earrings. This set has since been reworked into a tiara and necklace, now with a matching bracelet and earrings. Clearly a favourite, as seen worn in the link above – though perhaps a little too much for everyday wear!

Large emerald cut aquamarines remain popular today, with many celebrities proudly wearing them, including Kirstie Alsop and of course Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex – who has been photographed on many occasions wearing items from Diana’s collection.

At Cry for the Moon we have many beautiful items, including:

Engagement Rings

18ct White Gold Trilogy Aquamarine & Diamond Ring	Aquamarine & Diamond Three Stone Ring	Emerald Cut Aquamarine & Diamond Cluster Ring	Oval Aquamarine & Diamond Cluster Ring
£2,470	£3,300	£2,810	£3,680

Pendants

Aquamarine & Diamond 18ct White Gold Pendant	Aquamarine & Diamond Cluster Pendant	Aquamarine & Diamond Cushion Shaped Pendant	Briolette Aquamarine & Diamond Pendant
£1,650	£1,285	£975	£9,850

Earrings

18ct White Gold Aquamarine Stud Earring	Aquamarine & Diamond Cluster Earrings	Emerald Cut Aquamarine & Diamond Stud Earrings	18ct White Gold Pear Shaped Aquamarine & Diamond Drop Earrings
£375	£825	£1,050	£645

Book an appointment to visit our shop, or order online today.

November has nearly finished now, and as we see the golden brown leaves covering everywhere but the trees from which they fell – I always wonder if that is why the similarly coloured gemstones Topaz & Cirtine are the month’s birthstone. For those lucky enough to have these beautiful stones representing their birth, the bright yellow golden to orange shades perfectly represent the season.

Whilst Imperial Topaz is thought to bring about healing, Citrine is considered to be a gift from the sun.

Citrine

Citrine is so named after the french word Citrion meaning ‘lemon’ with its colours varying from a pale yellow to a rich wine colour. The most sought-after / prized are those described as Madeira Citrine, named after the colour of Madeira wine, and not the Atlantic island itself.

Citrine is found as many different gemstones in many different areas, but Brazil has perhaps the finest and most valuable. A member of the Quartz family and largely similar to Amethyst (they can sometimes be found in the same crystal structure, in the rare occurrence known as ‘Ametrine’ where half is yellow and half is purple), Citrine is also mined in France, Madagascar and the Ural mountains of Russia.

Citrine & Diamond Rubover Set Stud Earrings	Multi Gemstone Drop Earrings	Citrine & Diamond Three Stone Ring
£560	£350	£1485

Referred to as ‘The Merchants Stone’ or ‘Money Stone’, Citrine is thought to bring prosperity and wealth if placed on a table or till whilst making a deal. This, along with its bright orange colour representing the sun are some of the reasons that you see Citrine adorning many Scottish jewellery designs.

As well as representing November’s birthstone, Citrine is also the wedding anniversary gift for your 13th year of marriage.

Topaz

Topaz is a naturally hard gemstone measuring 8 on Mohs scales, in a family all of its own. Although most commonly found in jewellers in a sky-blue colour, this is very rarely its natural colour. Blue Topaz stones can be found naturally, but most are irradiated to add the colour to an otherwise colourless or slightly yellow stone.

The stone can also be found in many other colours, including:

• Colourless
• Yellow
• Blue
• Orange
• Green
• Reddish/Pink
• Golden Topaz
• Imperial Topaz

It is found in deposits around the world, including Topaz mountain in Utah USA, Ural mountains of Russia, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Germany, Czech Republic, Japan, Norway, Italy and Brazil… to name but a few.

Large crystals are not uncommon, and perhaps the largest is the American Gold Topaz weighting in at 4.5kg! It has a total carat weight of 22,892 – one of the largest ever cut gemstones in the world, Mined, in Brazil and took 2 years to cut from an 11.8kg crystal, by Leon Agee in the late 1980s.

Along with representing November’s birthstone, Topaz is also the 4th Wedding Anniversary gemstone.

Golden Topaz & Diamond Cluster Ring

£2,875

We at Cry for the Moon are proud to have some fabulous Imperial Topaz rings in stock, so please Get in touch if you’d like to book an appointment to try them on for yourself.

It’s finally May, and the trees are now almost full of leaves; bright and vibrant greens of many shades. Perhaps this is why Emerald is the birthstone for May; it radiates new life with its vivid, bright colour.

On a personal note, Emerald is my favourite of all the coloured gems. Both my wife and mother own Emerald engagement rings since their birthdays both fall in May. I personally think Emerald engagement rings are both unique and wonderful, but it isn’t just my love for Emerald I wish to share today; I’m hoping to help you discover yours…

What Are Emeralds

Emeralds are part of the ‘Beryl family’, a family known for an array of different colours:

Sky Blue	Aquamarine
Pink	Morganite
Yellow	Golden Beryl
Red	Red Beryl
Colourless	Goshenite

 

Emeralds are the green variety, first thought to have been mined by the Egyptians in countries known now as Austria and Pakistan. Today, Emeralds have been discovered at gem-quality by many countries, including Zambia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, India, Russia, USA, Afghanistan and Madagascar, to name just a few.

However, the most prized and valuable emeralds are still thought to be mined in Colombia. Featuring a deeper, more intense colour, better fire, brilliance and clarity, Colombian Emeralds are the most sought after for these reasons and hence command a higher value.

A Stunning Structure

Perhaps it’s the internal structure of Emeralds and their unique characteristic features that I find so compelling. Whilst most gems are considered ‘better’ if they are clean and free from flaws, Emeralds celebrate a uniqueness known as ‘La Jardin’ which only adds to their natural beauty.

‘The Garden’ of gemstones is likened to its unique fingerprint, each one as different and as mesmerising as the next. Yes, some Emeralds are beautifully clear, but this individual character just adds further fascinating appeal.

Buy Today

Here at Cry for the Moon, we have conceivably the largest selection of Emerald jewellery in Surrey, and certainly Guildford. We have some magnificent unique Emeralds encompassed within an array of rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets, bangles and brooches. We are certain we will offer an Emerald gemstone piece that you will love.

If this article has inspired you to love Emeralds as much as I do, please visit our Emerald category and browse our fabulous range of options. Perhaps you’re looking to surprise somebody special, whether it be for a May birthday or a 55th wedding anniversary – whatever your reason may be, our team would love to help find the perfect emerald for you.