Do you like wearing different kinds of earrings, necklaces, and bracelets? How would you differentiate the two if you came across blue topaz and aquamarine? It can be tough to tell the difference, especially if you’re unfamiliar with their appearance. Both gems are often a shade of light blue, which can lead to some confusion. In this blog post, we’ll give you a few tips on how to distinguish between these two stones.
Blue Topaz vs. Aquamarine
Following our advice, you’ll confidently identify blue topaz and aquamarine whenever you see them!
Refraction
One of the most reliable ways to tell blue topaz and aquamarine apart is by testing their refraction. You can do this at home with a simple magnifying glass. All you need to do is hold the glass up to the light and look through it at the stone. If the stone is blue topaz, you should see two images. If it’s aquamarine, you should see only one image.
The difference in refraction is due to the different compositions of the two stones. Blue topaz is a type of silicate mineral, while aquamarine is a type of beryl. Silicate minerals have more silicon and oxygen in their structure, which causes them to refract light differently than beryl.
Authenticating Aquamarine
So, how can you be sure you’re looking at a genuine aquamarine and not a clever imitation? Gem experts have a few tried-and-true techniques up their sleeves. For starters, aquamarine often displays telltale internal features, such as natural inclusions or subtle zones where the color changes just a bit. These are things you usually can’t spot with the naked eye, but a jeweler’s loupe or even a small microscope (the kind you’d pick up at a hobby shop) can reveal these hidden traits.
On top of that, examining how the stone bends light can help. Aquamarine’s refractive qualities are different from those of blue topaz or cheaper substitutes. While it might sound high-tech, you don’t need to be a scientist—just knowing what to look for and using some simple tools can help ensure your stone is the real deal.
Hardness
Another way to tell blue topaz and aquamarine apart is by testing their hardness. You can do this with a simple Mohs scale, which you can find at most jewelry stores. The Mohs scale is a numeric scale that rates the hardness of minerals from 1 to 10. The higher the number, the harder the mineral.
Blue topaz is rated at 8 on the Mohs scale, while aquamarine is rated at 7.5-8. This means that blue topaz is slightly harder than aquamarine. As a result, blue topaz is more resistant to scratches and other damage.
Clarity
Clarity refers to the number of blemishes or inclusions in a stone. Inclusions are foreign materials that are trapped inside the stone during its formation. Blemishes are surface irregularities that occur after the stone has formed.
Generally, blue topaz has better clarity than aquamarine. This is because blue topaz is typically found in larger sizes, which allows for fewer blemishes and inclusions. Aquamarine, on the other hand, is often found in smaller sizes. This means that there is less room for blemishes and inclusions to form.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to tell the difference between blue topaz and aquamarine, you can confidently choose the right stone for your needs. Here at Monarch Jewelry, we have a wide selection of diamond rings, earrings, and other fine jewelry. We also offer expert repairs, so you can keep your jewelry looking its best for years to come. Contact us or visit our store today to find the perfect piece of jewelry for you!