How Much Is Aquamarine Worth?
Also known as Blue Beryl
How much is aquamarine worth? It ranges from modest to genuinely valuable, driven almost entirely by the depth of blue. Aquamarine is the blue-to-blue-green variety of beryl (the same mineral family as emerald), and pale or small faceted stones sell for about $5–$30 per carat. Medium, clearly blue stones run $50–$300 per carat, and fine, deeply saturated 'Santa Maria'-type blue reaches $300–$1,000+ per carat in larger clean sizes. Most commercial aquamarine is routinely heat-treated to remove a greenish tint and pull it toward pure blue — this is standard and accepted, so untreated deep-blue material is the scarcer, pricier exception. Clarity, cut and size all add value, but a rich, pure blue is the single biggest driver; cheap greenish or watery-pale stones stay inexpensive.
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Aquamarine value by type
| Type | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Pale / small faceted (per ct) | $5 – $30/ct |
| Medium blue (per ct) | $50 – $300/ct |
| Fine deep blue (per ct) | $300 – $1,000+/ct |
| Rough / specimen crystals | $20 – $400 |
Educational ballparks for typical specimens — not a formal appraisal.
Prices reviewed July 2026.
What drives Aquamarine value
- Color depth. Rich, pure blue is the #1 driver — pale or greenish stones are far cheaper.
- Clarity. Aquamarine is often eye-clean; visible inclusions lower value.
- Size. Large clean stones with saturated color rise steeply in price per carat.
- Treatment. Most is heat-treated to pure blue (accepted); untreated deep blue is scarcer.
Is your Aquamarine real?
Aquamarine is imitated by blue glass, synthetic spinel, and pale irradiated blue topaz. Genuine aquamarine is a hard beryl (Mohs 7.5–8), typically a soft sky-to-sea blue, and often very clean; suspiciously electric-blue, bubble-filled, or very cheap 'aquamarine' is usually glass or treated topaz.
Full Aquamarine real-or-fake guide & at-home tests →FAQ
- How much is aquamarine worth per carat?
- Pale or small stones run about $5–$30 per carat, medium blue $50–$300, and fine deep-blue material $300–$1,000+ per carat in larger clean sizes. Depth of blue matters far more than size alone.
- Is aquamarine heat-treated?
- Usually yes — most aquamarine is heated to remove a greenish tint and produce a purer blue. It's a standard, accepted treatment; untreated deep-blue stones are scarcer and can command a premium.
- How can I tell real aquamarine from glass or blue topaz?
- Real aquamarine is a hard beryl (Mohs 7.5–8) with a soft natural blue and few bubbles. Rounded internal bubbles suggest glass, and a very vivid electric blue is often irradiated blue topaz rather than aquamarine.