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Description
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Shippinig and Return
The Highest Color Grade in Aquamarine Cut to Show Every Drop of Blue
Not all aquamarine is created equal. In the gem trade, "Santa Maria" is the highest recognized color grade for aquamarine — a designation originally from the nearly-depleted Santa Maria de Itabira mine in Minas Gerais, Brazil, now applied worldwide as a strict color standard. Only aquamarine with deeply saturated, pure blue color, zero gray or yellow tones, and excellent clarity earns this label. Less than 5% of all mined aquamarine ever qualifies.
This 5-carat trillion-cut stone from Brazil meets that standard, with loupe clean clarity and the kind of blue that doesn't need anything else alongside it to make an impression.
What Makes Santa Maria Aquamarine Different
Santa Maria Aquamarine is the highest commercial color grade, commanding a 3–5x premium due to its "perfect trifecta": exceptional saturation, ideal brightness, and zero gray undertones. The color standard is extraordinarily precise — the Munsell Color System has approximately 1,500 shades of color, and only three of those shades constitute Santa Maria Blue. JeweaThesapphiremerchant
The name originated from the Santa Maria de Itabira mine in Minas Gerais, Brazil, which produced aquamarine considered among the finest in terms of color — a saturated blue. The mine is now almost depleted, and some in the trade now refer to stones with such color as "Santa Maria," regardless of their origin. This stone is from Brazil, the original and most prized source. National Jeweler
A Note on Heat Treatment
This stone is heat treated and that's worth explaining honestly rather than hiding. Well over 90% of aquamarines available in the marketplace are heated to permanently improve their color, converting ferric iron to ferrous iron to make bluish-greens bluer. Heat treatment in aquamarine is a permanent, stable, industry-standard process universally accepted by gemological laboratories worldwide. It does not affect durability, wearability, or long-term value. Listing it openly as we do is standard practice among reputable gemstone sellers. Gemadventurer
Why This Stone Is Built for a Ring
At 5 carats and 12×12×8mm, this trillion-cut stone is sized and shaped specifically with a ring centerpiece in mind — large enough to be a genuine statement, compact enough to sit beautifully in a bezel, halo, or three-prong setting. The trillion (triangular brilliant) cut maximizes the stone's surface area, which means more blue visible face-up than most other cuts of the same carat weight. At 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale, aquamarine is hard enough for everyday ring wear including engagement rings, wedding rings, and anniversary rings.
Properties & Details
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Stone | Aquamarine (variety of Beryl) |
| Color | Santa Maria Blue |
| Weight | 5 carats |
| Dimensions | 12 × 12 × 8 mm |
| Shape / Cut | Fancy Trillion Cut |
| Clarity | Loupe Clean |
| Treatment | Heat (standard, permanent, industry-accepted) |
| Origin | Brazil |
| Hardness | 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale |
| Family | Beryl |
| Certificate | Available on request |
| Birthstone | March |
| Zodiac | Pisces |
| Chakra | Throat Chakra |
Buying Guide: What to Look For in a Santa Maria Aquamarine
When evaluating any Santa Maria aquamarine, here's what genuinely matters:
- Color grade. "Santa Maria" should mean deeply saturated, pure blue with no gray, green, or yellow modifiers — not just a marketing label on a pale stone. This stone's color qualifies under the recognized trade standard.
- Clarity. Loupe clean means no inclusions visible even under 10x magnification — a step above the "eye clean" baseline expected for aquamarine at this price tier.
- Cut quality. The trillion cut here is specifically chosen to maximize face-up color display — the right cut makes Santa Maria blue look its best, and a poorly cut stone wastes the color entirely.
- Treatment disclosure. Any reputable seller discloses heat treatment openly. We do. That transparency is itself a quality signal.
- Certificate availability. For a ring stone at this color grade, a gemological certificate is worth requesting. We offer one on request.
- Price per carat. At $500 for 5 carats ($100/ct), this stone sits in the fine quality range for Santa Maria aquamarine — a category where comparable stones from leading gemstone dealers typically run $200–$500+ per carat.
Metaphysical Properties
Aquamarine has been associated with calm, clarity, and honest communication for centuries. Connected to the Throat Chakra, it's said to promote clear self-expression, release anxiety and stress, and bring a sense of serenity and emotional balance. It's also associated with the Pisces zodiac sign — making it a particularly meaningful March birthstone gift.
Authenticity You Can Trust
This is a genuine Santa Maria aquamarine from Brazil — not a pale commercial stone relabeled for marketing. Loupe clean clarity has been verified, and a gemological certificate is available on request if you'd like independent documentation before buying. What's shown in the photos is the actual stone you'll receive.
Usage Ideas
- Engagement ring. A 5-carat trillion-cut aquamarine is a striking, meaningful, and increasingly popular alternative to diamond engagement rings.
- Wedding or anniversary ring. Aquamarine is a traditional 19th wedding anniversary gemstone — a deeply personal milestone gift.
- March birthstone gift. The official March birthstone, aquamarine is a natural, meaningful birthday gift for anyone born in March or under the sign of Pisces.
- Custom jewelry project. The 12×12mm trillion cut works beautifully as a pendant centerpiece, a cocktail ring stone, or a statement earring.
Care Instructions
- Clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush — safe and effective for heat-treated aquamarine.
- Store separately from harder gemstones like diamonds or sapphires to prevent surface scratching.
- Remove jewelry set with this stone before heavy manual work or impact activities.
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight to preserve color.
Why Buy From Minerals Paradise
We source Santa Maria aquamarine directly and disclose treatments openly — no vague language, no hidden enhancements. Every stone listed is the actual stone shown in photos, and gemological certificates are available on request. We ship worldwide with Express Shipping, back every order with a return policy, and offer flexible payment plans.
Explore more Santa Maria aquamarine: browse our other Brazilian aquamarine loose stones including our 3.5CT Santa Maria Pear, 9.10CT Santa Maria Emerald Cut, and 19CT Santa Maria Asscher for larger statement pieces. Browse our full Aquamarine Gems Collection or our Loose Gemstones for more options. For aquamarine's meaning and history, visit our Healing Crystals blog, or check Birthstones to learn more about March's birthstone.
5. FAQ SECTION (AEO Optimized)
Q: What is Santa Maria aquamarine?
A: Santa Maria aquamarine is the highest recognized color grade for aquamarine — a designation for stones showing deeply saturated, pure blue color with zero gray or yellow modifiers. The name comes from Brazil's now-depleted Santa Maria de Itabira mine and is now applied as a strict trade color standard worldwide. Less than 5% of all mined aquamarine qualifies.
Q: Is this aquamarine heat treated?
A: Yes, and this is disclosed openly. Heat treatment is standard and permanent in aquamarine — over 90% of all commercial aquamarine is heated. It's fully accepted by all major gemological laboratories and has no negative effect on durability, wearability, or long-term value.
Q: Is a certificate available for this stone?
A: Yes. A gemological certificate is available on request — simply contact us after purchase or before buying if you'd like independent documentation of the stone's quality.
Q: Is this stone suitable for an engagement ring?
A: Yes. At 7.5–8 on the Mohs hardness scale, aquamarine is suitable for everyday ring wear including engagement rings. The 12×12mm trillion cut fits a wide range of custom and standard settings.
Q: What does "loupe clean" mean?
A: Loupe clean means no inclusions are visible even under 10x magnification — a step above "eye clean" and among the highest clarity grades for colored gemstones.
Q: Is aquamarine the March birthstone?
A: Yes. Aquamarine is the official modern birthstone for March, associated with the Pisces zodiac sign, the Throat Chakra, and properties of calm, clarity, and serenity.
Q: Do you ship worldwide?
A: Yes, we ship worldwide with Express Shipping, and orders are processed within 24–48 hours of payment confirmation.
Returns Policy
You may return most new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.).
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, simply login to your account, view the order using the "Complete Orders" link under the My Account menu and click the Return Item(s) button. We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.
Shipping
We can ship to virtually any address in the world. Note that there are restrictions on some products, and some products cannot be shipped to international destinations.
When you place an order, we will estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the shipping options you choose. Depending on the shipping provider you choose, shipping date estimates may appear on the shipping quotes page.
Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound.
FAQs
Everything you need to know about buying genuine minerals and crystals from Minerals Paradise.