Aventurine vs Aquamarine: What Are They, And What's The Difference?

There has been an ongoing debate about Aventurine and Aquamarine since some versions of both gems bear a close resemblance.

To clear the air, we’ve done some in-depth research to get the definition, origins, uses, and beliefs about both gems.

You’ll also learn about the similarities, differences, and why people tend to confuse both gems.

Aventurine vs Aquamarine (EXPLAINED)

What is Aventurine?

Aventurine is translucent quartz or quartzite that contains numerous little flat-shaped inclusions.

When light enters the quartz, it strikes and bounces off of these impurities.

Light entering the quartz results in a glistening effect known as “aventurescence.”

The inclusions can also give the material a distinct, and sometimes beautiful, color.

When there are many inclusions in standard orientation, their reflections can be striking.

Aventurine’s popularity as a gemstone stems from this feature, as well as its appealing colors.

The most common color of aventurine is green (sometimes confused with emerald), but it also comes in orange, yellow, red, pink, brown, white, gray, and blue.

Inclusions of Various Types

Fuchsite, a green chromium-rich mica, is the most common inclusion in aventurine.

A few percent fuchsite by volume can give aventurine a characteristic green color.

You will find Fuchsite in ten to twenty percent of aventurine specimens.

Such a high sum can be problematic.

The material can be “cleaved” if there are oriented Fuchsite flakes in the same direction.

If the grains are coarse, pits can form at the points where they cross the polished surface.

Small reflecting particles of other materials can cause Aventurescence in quartz and quartzite.

Lepidolite mica flakes can be pink, crimson, purple, red, and brown Aventurine sometimes encompasses hematite and goethite.

Gray, yellowish, or silvery aventurine usually comprise muscovite and ilmenite.

Aventurine is a popular semiprecious gemstone because of its dazzling reflections and beautiful colors.

Aventurine Comes From a Variety of Places.

People discover Aventurine in small numbers all over the world.

By far, the largest commercial producer of aventurine is India.

Brazil is the second-largest producer in the world.

You’ll find smaller amounts of aventurine produced in Russia, Spain, Austria, and Tanzania.

Some people believe that most of the stuff advertised as “Aventurine” today lacks enough aventurescence to warrant the name.

It’s challenging to get quartz with immediately identifiable aventurescence, and spectacular aventurescence is much harder to come by.

What is Aquamarine?

Morganite, Goshenite, Yellow Beryl, and Emerald are all Beryl family, including Aquamarine.

Aquamarine, one of the most famous blue gemstones, is shrouded in myth and mythology.

Aquamarine is known as the sea’s diamond, and its name comes from the Latin words “aqua” for “water” and “marina” for “of the sea.”

Aquamarine has excellent clarity, which means it sparkles brightly and energetically.

Aquamarine’s Background

A link between Aquamarine and the sea remains for centuries, and it’s easy to see why.

Its tropical ocean blue tones naturally inspire ideas of landless skies and the waters below, and making jewelry is one of its many uses, not just in recent times but since at least 500 BC.

Eons ago, people thought it was mermaids’ treasure, and sailors and tourists wore it as a talisman to protect them from being shipwrecked and prevent seasickness.

“The magnificent Aquamarine, which seems to have come from some mermaid’s treasure home, in the depths of the summer sea,” wrote Pliny the Elder (23 AD – 79 AD) of the gem.

Water and the oceans are the subjects of many superstitions and folklore told throughout Aquamarine’s long history.

According to one belief, the gem’s properties are powerful when submerged in water.

When Aquamarine’s reputed powers began to wane, the rock was immersed in water on the night of a brilliant full moon to resurrect it.

According to legends, in the past, sailors caught in a storm would toss their Aquamarines overboard as a last resort in an attempt to soothe the gods.

The stone was revered by both the Romans and the Greeks, who referred to it as the sailor’s diamond.’

The Romans even regarded it to cure medical diseases of the throat, stomach, and liver.

Jewelry Made With Aquamarine

Back on dry land, gem lovers thought aquamarine soothed and extended marriages, which is why it was commonly presented as an anniversary gift even before it was officially designated for the 19th wedding anniversary.

It was also considered to make troops invincible; therefore, it was carried into combat as a protection stone.

This mythology of ‘protection in war’ has been construed by some in the current period as a type of legal protection.

It was also believed to deliver rain when it was sorely needed, as well as curse foes with drought.

What are the Similarities Between Aventurine and Aquamarine?

Both stones are thought to offer tremendous psychic healing and protective abilities.

They come in various colors, but the only one they have in common is teal—both in the creation of exceptional jewelry.

What’s the Difference Between Aventurine and Aquamarine?

When looking at Aventurine and Aquamarine, you’ll notice that Aquamarine comes in a variety of colors, ranging from an almost colorless pale blue to a blue-green or teal.

Aventurine, on the other hand, comes in a spectrum of colors, including green, peach, brown, blue, and creamy green.

Aquamarine has a hardness of 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale, whereas Aventurine has a hardness of 6.5.

According to legend, Aventurine is a multi-purpose healer that may help you relax, gain confidence, expand your creativity, and increase your wealth.

According to tradition, Aventurine was used to improve nearsightedness and increase the wearer’s inventiveness in ancient Tibet.

Many people feel that aventurine can soothe a restless spirit and bring inner serenity.

Aquamarine, on the other hand, has long been thought to bestow foresight, courage, and happiness to those who wear it.

Many people claim it boosts one’s IQ and makes one look younger.

Aquamarine is a therapeutic stone that is supposed to be beneficial in treating anxiety, and they considered in the Middle Ages that it would decrease the effects of poisons.

Sailors were said to wear Aquamarine gemstones to keep them safe and avoid seasickness, according to mythology.

Why Do People Confuse Aventurine and Aquamarine

Understandably, people often confuse some versions of the two gems as the teal aquamarine does resemble the green Aventurine.

Outside that small situation, both gems have more differences than do with similarities.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to Aventurine and Aquamarine, both gems are beautiful but Aventurine comes in a wider range of colors.

Aquamarine, on the other hand, is harder in texture by about 1.5 – 2 points on the Mohs scale and is usually on the blue side, with its teal version being the only one bearing an uncanny resemblance to Aventurine.