Colored Beryl Gemstones
Aquamarines are just one form of the mineral Beryl - a stone which occurs in a veritable rainbow of colors! All share the durable, scratch-resistant properties of the aquamarine. The other gem-quality variaties of beryl commonly used in jewelry include Morganite (Pink Beryl or Pink Emerald), Heliodor, Bixbite and the venerable green Emerald.
Emerald
Like the aquamarine, the ever-popular emerald is a member of the Beryl family. Emeralds are the birthstone for those born in May.
Emeralds and emerald jewelry >>
Morganite
Less common than the emerald or the aquamarine, the pink to peach-colored Morganite (sometimes called Pink Beryl or Pink Emerald) is equally wearable as jewelry. Morganite gets its unique color from traces of the element Manganese and its name from the 19th century financier, JP Morgan. It ranges in hue from light pink to vivid pink to shades of salmon and peach. Morganite with an orange hue is sometimes called Champagne Beryl.
Morganite was first discovered in Madagascar in the 1800's. Today, it is also mined in California. The largest cut pink beryl gemstone is a 598.7 carat cushion-cut gemston on display in the British Museum in London. Morganite has also been fashioned into statues, most notably a 2,230 carat statue of the Goddess of Immortality, on display at the American Museum of Natural History.
Morganite Jewelry >>
Unset Morganite
stones >>
Heliodor
Heliodor is a yellow-green shade of Beryl. Heliodor jewelry is hard to find, but unset loose heliodor gem stones are readily available.
Search for heliodor faceted stones >>
Red Beryl - Bixbite
The least common hue, red beryl (aka bixbite) can also be purchased in the form of looose, faceted stones. Your local jeweler can then help you fashion your bixbite gemstone into a one-of-a-kind, custom creation.
