Diamond Lover answers:

Aquamarine is a variety of the mineral beryl, which is formed in beryllium rich rock, in particular in pegmatites - coarse grained granites. The greening blue color may be made by small impurities of the element scandium.

Diamond Lover answers:

I would call Aqua a happy, sweet, free-spirit. The movie, which was about two 13-year-olds meeting a mermaid, was very enjoyable!

Diamond Lover answers:

Your jeweler may be using solvent in an ultrasonic cleaner. Since you don't have that option, try using an old toothbrush and liquid detergent.

What makes gemstones dull is light "leakage"

A grease spot on the pavilion (back) of a gem alters what should be a gem/air interface. Now there is a gem/grease interface.

What that does is light pass through rather than being reflected back through the crown and to the eye.

So cleaning the back side of the gem is just as, or more, important, than cleaning the crown (top).

NOTE: Work over a towel or washcloth rather than over a bathroom or kitchen sink. If that ring is dropped, it might damage a stone or setting.

Diamond Lover answers:

A good one should be pale blue and clear. If it is in natural (uncut) state you would expect to see a hexagonal shape. Chemically it is a form of beryl similar to emerald (which is green to pale green.) If the stone is not crystal clear, it is of low quality and not fit for jewelry , it is then called Beryl. The weight of aquamarines is measured in carats, but actual weight is not a direct factor of quality per say... although the larger the stone the greater is potential value.

Diamond Lover answers:

Well first, you are evaluating it's quality based upon your opinion. Since you do not know what it is worth, you would not know how to determine what is "flawless" or "very clear", as those terms are subjective and determined by an expert. I happen to be a gemologist.

There are many factors that you cannot convey briefly to obtain a value. Aquamarine can and is many times heat treated to obtain a good color. There is also quartz that is mistaken for Aquamarine, but for this instance, I'll assume it is. This gem is rarely "princess cut" in larger sizes, but rather a rectangular stepped cut (similar to emerald cut).

Since aquamarine shares the chemical make of emerald, it has the attributes of the beryl crystal. It has a dual optic axis, so viewing it through a dichroscope would confirm what it actually is.

Given what you have said, it would be about a 7 X 9 center stone and not knowing how the diamonds are arranged or their quality, the ring might retail between $250 - $500. That is based upon 14K gold and approximately 1/3 ct. In diamonds. If we knew the Aqua was not heat treated and if the diamonds are of better quality or weigh more and set in 18K, I would say $450 - $1200. (Note, these prices may fluctuate greatly depending upon the spot price of gold.)

Unfortunately, many semi-precious stones have more recently been set in 10K. In which case the value is about 40% less than 14K. Reason being, if you have a good stone, you would not mount it in 14K. Furthermore, If you have a perfect stone, you would not mount it in 14K, but 18K.