Aquamarine Engagement Rings

Aquamarine offers a clear, cool blue that few other gemstones match at the same size. It belongs to the beryl family, the same mineral as emerald, and reads as calm rather than showy. For a client who wants a generous stone without the cost of fine sapphire, it is a considered and quietly distinctive choice for an engagement ring.

The colour, from sky to sea

Aquamarine ranges from pale sky blue to a deeper sea blue, sometimes with a green cast. The most prized stones show an even, saturated blue held right across the gem. Paler material is gentle and luminous; deeper material carries more presence. Neither depth is better on its own, and the right choice depends on the hand and the design.

Larger aquamarines tend to show their colour more fully than small ones, which is part of their appeal. We source stones to your brief, with independent certification available on centre stones, and share full grading and detail, including images and video on a call where helpful, so you can judge tone with confidence before committing.

Why it offers real value

Clean aquamarines in larger sizes remain affordable relative to sapphire, so your budget reaches a bigger, brighter stone. That suits anyone who wants scale and a serene blue rather than a small, intense one. As a guide, bespoke engagement rings start from £2,000, with the stone costed separately and transparently.

Durability and protective settings

Aquamarine sits at 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, hard enough for daily wear with sensible care, though softer than diamond or sapphire. The setting matters. We favour designs that shield the stone at its most vulnerable points while keeping light moving through it.

A bezel or part-bezel to guard the girdle and edges
Slightly heavier claws on a raised stone for everyday knocks
Lower profiles for active hands and frequent wear
Considered shoulder detailing so the stone is framed, not exposed

Pairing with white metals

The cool blue of aquamarine is flattered by white metals. Platinum gives a bright, neutral frame that lets the blue stay clean, while 18ct white gold offers a similar look. Every piece is designed in CAD in-house and hand-finished at our own bench in London, with casting and setting carried out by trusted specialist workshops, so the metal, the setting height and the proportions are all decided around your particular stone rather than a fixed template.

Good to know

What birthstone is aquamarine?

Aquamarine is the birthstone for March, which makes a spring proposal or a March birthday a natural and personal reason to choose it.

If a cool, generous blue appeals to you, book a consultation at our private studio near Farringdon, or read more about our approach to bespoke engagement rings.

Aquamarine rings

Cushion cut aquamarine with a diamond either side on a twisted rope crossover band in white gold

Round aquamarine and two small diamonds on a plain tapered polished white gold band

Round aquamarine in a diamond halo on a white gold ring with diamond set shoulders, seen from above

Cushion cut aquamarine in a scalloped floral diamond halo on a milgrain edged white gold band

Round aquamarine solitaire in six claws on a white gold band with open Celtic knot shoulders

Elongated cushion aquamarine ring in white gold with a geometric diamond halo, bezel set accents and split shoulders

Common questions

What makes aquamarine special?

Aquamarine is a pale-to-medium blue-green beryl (same mineral family as emerald). Its name comes from the Latin 'aqua marina' (water of the sea) and it's been associated with sailors, tranquillity, and courage for centuries. Aquamarine's colour is typically more serene and sky-like than the saturated blue of sapphire, making it a distinctive choice for clients who want blue without the cost of a fine sapphire.

Is aquamarine durable enough for an engagement ring?

Yes: aquamarine scores 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it suitable for daily-wear engagement rings with sensible care. It's harder than quartz, emerald, and opal. We recommend protective settings (bezel or halo) for larger stones and avoiding contact with harder gemstones in jewellery boxes to prevent scratching.

How is aquamarine graded?

Aquamarine is graded on colour saturation (deeper blue is more valuable), tone (medium to medium-dark preferred), clarity (eye-clean is standard; aquamarine is typically very clean), and cut (well-cut stones show vivid colour across the face). The most prized aquamarines come from Santa Maria mines in Brazil and show saturated blue without green overtones.

What colour aquamarine is best?

The most valuable aquamarines show medium-saturation pure blue or slightly greenish-blue, without visible grey or brown. Santa Maria aquamarines (from Brazil) are the benchmark for fine colour: deep vivid blue. Most commercial aquamarines are lighter sky-blue, which is also beautiful and more affordable. Heat treatment is standard and not a quality concern.

How much do aquamarine engagement rings cost?

Bespoke aquamarine rings start from around £1,500 in 18ct gold with a 2.00ct-3.00ct aquamarine of good colour. Larger stones (5ct+) with fine Santa Maria colour run £3,500 to £8,000 set in platinum with diamond accents. March's birthstone, aquamarine is a popular choice for March birthdays.

Is aquamarine usually treated?

Commonly, yes. Much aquamarine on the market is gently heated to reduce green or yellow tones and settle the blue. This is a long-accepted, stable treatment. We will always tell you what a stone has been through before you decide.