Aquamarine price: what an aquamarine is worth per carat
Aquamarine is valued for the purity and depth of its blue. A vivid, pure blue commands a strong premium over the pale, greenish material that is far more common.
What drives aquamarine price
Aquamarine is blue beryl, the same family as emerald. Because pale stones are abundant, saturation is the main value driver: a deep, pure blue is worth far more per carat than a light or greenish-blue stone of the same size.
Colour
The most prized colour is a medium, pure blue with no grey and minimal green. Trade names such as "Santa Maria" (deep, pure blue, originally from Brazil) and "Santa Maria Africana" (Mozambique) signal top saturation and carry a premium. Much aquamarine is greenish and is routinely heated to a purer blue.
Clarity & size
Aquamarine is a Type I stone, so fine material is expected to be eye-clean; visible inclusions reduce value. It commonly forms large, clean crystals, so unlike ruby or Paraíba, big sizes do not command extreme per-carat premiums — colour matters more than size here.
Treatment
Gentle heating to remove green and deepen the blue is standard, stable and accepted, and does not carry a stigma.
Aquamarine price — frequently asked questions
What colour aquamarine is most valuable?
A deep, pure blue with little or no green or grey. Pale and greenish-blue stones are far more common and much more affordable per carat.
Is aquamarine heated?
Most commercial aquamarine is gently heated to remove greenish tones and produce a purer blue. This is a standard, stable and accepted treatment.
What is Santa Maria aquamarine?
A trade term for aquamarine of exceptionally deep, pure blue, originally from the Santa Maria mine in Brazil. Similar Mozambique material is called Santa Maria Africana. Both command premiums.
Does size affect aquamarine price much?
Less than for rarer gems. Aquamarine forms large clean crystals, so colour saturation influences per-carat price more than size does.
Indicative trade information from the Gem Index universal pricing engine — not a formal appraisal or laboratory certificate. Wholesale, USD. Species, treatment and origin should be confirmed by an accredited gem laboratory before sale. See our full disclaimer and methodology.