Bangkok – Following the introduction of grading reports for “Jedi” spinel, the Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences (AIGS) has done the same for a specific aquamarine trade name.
The Institute has introduced a colour code for the “Santa Maria” label as well as grading reports.
“Santa Maria” is derived from the colour of aquamarine from the Santa Maria de Itabira mine in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
The mine produced aquamarine considered to be among the best in terms of colour – a saturated blue – but is now almost depleted.
Some in the trade now refer to stones of this colour as “Santa Maria”, regardless of their origin.
To define which stones should receive such a label, AIGS has created a “Santa Maria” colour code that defines by colour – hue, saturation and tone – and even clarity. It does not define by geographical origin.The Institute said its colour code applies the name “Santa Maria” to the aquamarine variety of beryl, which has a blue colour and medium saturation without brown or yellow tones.
Those with low saturation, low clarity and dark tones do not meet the criteria to be called Santa Maria, it added. Neither does an aquamarine with low limpidity.
For those that do meet the criteria, AIGS will indicate in its gemstone identification reports that the stone qualifies as a “Santa Maria” type of aquamarine.
“The introduction of the Santa Maria colour code is another important initiative following the launch of our Jedi spinel reports last October,” said Kennedy Ho, Chairman of AIGS.
“Trade names such as pigeon blood and royal blue have been used by gemstone dealers for centuries to describe ideal colours that imply value and rarity. However, these trade names are often ambiguous, with definitions varying between buyers and sellers. AIGS aims to reduce this ambiguity by making trade names an industry standard through objective, third-party grading reports.
