Aquamarine (70 grams) (GEM "floater")

Item Description

A classic, and now difficult to find, water-clear gem crystal of light blue Aquamarine from the famous locality at Jaqueto. This area has produced some of the most distinctive etched Beryl crystals extant, and since very little has been available for many years, they are highly prized and coveted by collectors. These aren't ordinary Aquas, as their unique appearance, and relative obscurity on the market these days has made them some of the most desirable gem crystals around. This piece has the characteristic form for the material with the beautiful tapered ends and graceful etching patterns. Along with the eye-catching color, the crystal is nearly 100% GEM quality when backlit. It is a complete doubly-terminated "floater" crystal, with no point of attachment on any side, as is often the case with crystals from Jaqueto. A soft luster along with a few remaining hexagonal crystal faces that were preserved during the natural etching process all make for a very worthwhile and desirable gem crystal display specimen. Larger specimens sell for huge prices these days, not to say that this is a small crystal by any means. It's a marvel that the piece survived the gem cutters in Brazil, as the majority of crystals due to their pleasing color, are immediately destroyed and faceted into gemstones. From a gemstone perspective, the crystal would yield conservatively $6000 retail value in cut stones. The piece was valued in the inventory at $5500, and with the prices rising almost daily, this one will certainly end up being a worthy addition to any collection.