SPOTLIGHT 市场聚焦 GEMSWORLD | 34 | 2026 Aquamarine’s stunning blue-green colour that is reminiscent of the clear, tranquil waters of the ocean has captivated global audiences for many years. With its inherent elegance and versatility, and a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, it is still one of the best-performing gems in the trade. Demand for top-range stones is on the rise, pushing prices up, said Carl-Philip Arnoldi, CEO of HC Arnoldi eK. “Aquamarine is a constantly fast-moving gemstone for us, especially in higher and medium qualities,” he explained. “Santa Maria-colour aquamarines bearing intense blue hues are buyer favourites. Prices of these gems have skyrocketed in the last three to four years.” Main growth drivers are Asia, the US and Europe while China is a major market for darker, more vivid stones. Santa Maria aquamarine is coveted for its deep blue colour and considered a prized variety of the gem. It was named after the renowned Santa Maria de Itabira mine in Brazil, which is now nearly depleted. Today, the term “Santa Maria” refers to any aquamarine displaying the same intense, saturated blue colour, regardless of origin. Arnoldi said prices of high-quality stones have risen by 50 to 100 per cent over the last three years compared to the usual 5 to 10 per cent annual increase. “Very fine, top-range Santa Maria-colour aquamarines are exceeding US$2,000 per carat. I have never experienced that before,” he added. Driving unprecedented price movements are jewellery brands increasingly using aquamarine in their creations such as Van Cleef & Arpels’ aquamarine-centred Fleurs d'Hawaï Collection, Bulgari’s Mediterranean Muse necklace and Tiffany & Co by Jean Schlumberger’s Bird on a Rock aquamarine variation. In terms of sizes, the sweet spot is between 5 and 10 carats, and in some instances, 10 to 15 carats. Anything bigger than that will be a challenge to sell, noted Arnoldi. Meanwhile, smaller calibrated goods in medium colour and finer quality also move well. HC Arnoldi sources its aquamarines from Mozambique, Nigeria and Madagascar. Mufeed Asraf, head of sales at Bangkok-based Right Gems Supplier, explained that his company sources aquamarines mostly from Brazil since supply is consistent. Madagascar goods, meanwhile, are also becoming readily available. Right Gems Supplier also has operations in Hong Kong. Asraf explained, “Madagascar aquamarine tends to have a tint of grey, which is absent in its Brazilian counterpart, whose blue colour is more striking.” | Bernardette Sto. Domingo 杜明高 | BLUE is the colour of luxury 奢华蓝调 Aquamarine continues to be a top seller for gemstone traders around the world, thanks to its enchanting colour, durability and overall luxurious appeal. 海蓝宝石凭借其迷人的蓝色、卓越的耐久性及整体的奢华魅力，稳占全球宝石商 最畅销宝石之列。
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