Description & Provenance

Aquamarine is derived from the Latin words, “aqua marina” which means “sea water,” a nod to the color’s likeness to tranquil seas. Anyone that has ever beheld a clear and vibrant aquamarine knows that the sensation is like wielding an ocean in one’s palm. So palpable is this likeness that it was described as “a treasure of the mermaids” by Pliny the Elder, and ancient civilizations attributed aquamarine with mystical powers, believing its stunning beauty to be proof of its energetic ability. Fine aquamarine specimens are primarily recovered from mines in Pakistan and Brazil. Although Brazil typically produces the highest quality aquamarine itself, specimens tend to be aesthetically limited due to the fact they are almost always single crystals that have detached from their matrices.

This is a large and robust aquamarine from Nagar, Pakistan. It formed upon a matrix of silvery, bladed muscovite and hearty albite crystals. Specimens from the Nagar mine are often associated with some degree of muscovite, but here the size and condition of the muscovite matrix, along with the unusual addition of albite crystals is quite exceptional. The aquamarine’s beautiful, soft blue color and large size, paired with its combination of three different mineral species makes for an array of textures and a sculptural form. Impactful and alluring, many liken this specimen to a beautiful seascape, replete with silvery oysters, barnacles, and sparkling blue water.

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