Aquamarine Price Per Carat: How Much Is Aquamarine Worth?

You may wonder how much aquamarine price per carat factors into the type of stone you’re getting, or how valuable it is. 

Aquamarines are a stone that can either be super cheap, like the cost of a fast food meal, to almost a thousand dollars for a stone that has a very vivid color, and with the name “Santa Maria” on it. 

Many aquamarine stones are anywhere from 40 to 250 dollars per carat.   The size doesn’t affect the price usually, meaning that a stone that’s 10 carats will   only cost a little more than a stone that’s a single carat.   Here, we will go over what exactly affects the number, and the most important factors that determine its price point.

Why Aquamarine Stays a Favorite?

The stone is popular because it’s pert of the beryl family of minerals, which is also what emerald is a part of.   Aquamarine comes from the Latin word which means “water of the sea” which is why it’s a stone with such a fitting name. most people like the colors of these stones, and also the iron that is present inside, which makes the stone more vivid and rare. 

The cool thing about aquamarine, is you can get a pretty stone without breaking the bank, and for March birthdays, this is the birthstone, which is why it’s still incredibly popular.

How Much Is Aquamarine Worth in 2026?

Retail price per carat for natural, loose (faceted) aquamarine, by size and color quality:

All of these prices are for natural stones, with only gentle heat treatment, which is what most aquamarine on the market get, and the stone is eye-clean.   Stones that are not treated, but have similar clarity and colors usually go for a similar price, so you won’t be dinged for heat treatment. 

This table doesn’t factor in a stone that’s irradiated. This table also specifically covers the faceted stones that are used with jewelry. A rough stone usually goes for a much lower price, especially if you’re going to cut it yourself.

What Actually Determines the Price

Aquamarine is judged like other stones for color, cut, clarity, and the carat, but these are all not equal. 

Color is the most major one, as the saturation, hues, and the tones are all a big part of this, especially if you want a stone that’s either a deep or medium blue without green in it, and will be priced much higher than any with green in it.   if it looks close to a Santa Maria, chances are it will fetch a high price. 

What is the Santa Maria though? It’s a stone from the Itabira mine located in Brazil, known for a deep blue found in the stones there.   It’s similar to how pigeon’s blood is a term for the highest-quality rubies out there. Sometimes, Satna Maria stones also have a region name to them, like Santa Maria Africana for a stone that is that color from a mine in Africa. 

Green causes the stone to drop by almost half in price, which is partially responsible for why so many labs will heat treat the green away. 

Clarity doesn’t play as much as a part because there are far less obvious inclusions than compared to emeralds, so the standard is that it’s clean if you look at it.   however, some that do have visible occlusions that make it look like a cat’s eye do raise the quality in certain situations. 

Cut is much higher than the weight because you can make a stone that looks ordinary look extraordinary with the right cut, like with an emerald cut. On the flip side, the wrong cut does make the light leak out and makes the stone look far less remarkable. 

Carat Weight is different for aquamarines because of the way beryl crystalizes to make emeralds.   It takes a while, which means you’re going to have a lot of stone. But, of the cut and color is dull, it will go for a lot less than say an emerald of a similar carat size.   It is also very easy to find clean, large aquamarines compared to other types of stones, but if you do find a large one, it can actually benefit you because with the right cut, it can make the stone look premium. 

our 500-gram rough aquamarine bulk lot offers a practical entry point into larger-parcel sourcing.

One caution worth flagging: According to GIA's own consumer guidance, there is no set standard for aquamarine, the grading scale as it is standardised for diamonds and emeralds. GIA does not issue color stone grading guidelines. The reports from GIA will only mention that whether the stone is natural or synthetic. or it will mark treatments types. 

Rough vs. Faceted: Why "Price Per Carat" Isn't One Number

Rough and faceted cuts are held to much different standards. 

Right now, rough aquamarine  goes for a couple bucks per carat, which means that if you have a parcel that’s over 100 carats, you’ll probably be paying at most, around $400 for those. Smaller parcels containing rarer stones, however, will be priced more, sometimes upwards of $20 per carat, because the color is what matters more than whether there’s a lot of the stone or not. 

Faceting eats a ton of the rough stone’s weight in the beginning, at least a quarter of it. faceted dealers have already chosen the best stuff, and taken their lumps for those that aren’t as good.   Rough stones however, require you to have to go through to find the dial product.

Not sure on how to do that? Take a look at our rough-to-ring yield ratio guide.

Facet-grade rough aquamarine — selected for cutting quality, commanding a higher per-carat price than standard bulk parcels.

Rough aquamarine stones — bulk material as bought by lapidaries, priced very differently from faceted gems.

Where Aquamarine Comes From — and Why Origin Isn't Everything

Brazil right now is the largest supplier of aquamarine, along with Mozambique, Madagascar, Zambia, and Nigeria. 

Some have started to get aquamarine from the Gilgit-Baltistan region in Pakistan, especially near Shigar Valley located by Nagar. 

Some smaller-scale mining does offer some beautiful sky blue specimens, and it’s why Folkmarketgems does offer aquamarine from the Pakistan-Afghanistan area, because like Swat emeralds and Kohistan, many wish for this type of stone, so we offer many options. 

Origin however, isn’t the be all, end all to buying stones. If the stone isn’t a deep blue or close to Santa Maria, chances are it will be way less, even if it comes from a notable mine.

Our 51-gram raw aquamarine rough crystals, sourced from the same Pakistan–Afghanistan gem belt. 

Here's the honest and straight standard from GIA's own buying guidance: origin by itself isn't a value driver for aquamarine. A famous mine is well-regarded because it has historically produced fine material — not the other way around. A pale, included stone from Brazil is worth less than a vivid, clean stone from Pakistan or Madagascar, full stop. 

Aquamarine vs. Its Look-Alikes: Don't Overpay by Mistake

Here is another issue with Aquamarine: its pale and clean blue color sometimes looks like other stones. Blue topaz is often mistaken for aquamarine because of the blue color. Blue topaz — by far the most common substitute. 

Blue zircon, along with light blue sapphires also have a similar look to aquamarine, but do have notable differences upon testing, especially when you measure the specific gravity and the refractive index.   Most labs can tell you in minutes if you have something. our guide on identifying real vs. fake gemstones covers the practical tests and red flags to watch for. If an "aquamarine" is priced dramatically below the ranges above, ask directly whether it's natural aquamarine and ask for that in writing on the receipt or certificate. A legitimate seller won't hesitate. 

So rule of thumb: if a stone is priced way less than it should be, get a test. Legitimate sellers will usually provide this, and if they hedge, there’s your answer.

The World's Most Valuable Aquamarines

The most expensive aquamarine is different because we don’t price it based on the cost per carat, but instead of how, as an object, it looks.

The most famous is the Don Pedro located at the Smithsonian. Roughly 10,000 carats, it’s the only gem that comes close to the Hope Diamond. 

This stone is unique. It doesn’t have a price underneath, and for the most part, it’s considered priceless, and off the market.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average price per carat for aquamarine? 

You will pay anywhere from $40-250 per carat. Most commercial stones can be around $10 per carat, with the deep blue colored ones being almost a grand. 

Does aquamarine's value increase a lot with carat weight, the way a diamond's does?

No. it grows more valuable based on the color, not the size as much. Larger stones will obviously cost more, but the clarity and color are the main determinants. 

Is heat-treated aquamarine less valuable than untreated? 

not for aquamarines, because if you heat treat the green out, it makes it more valuable. 

Why is rough aquamarine so much cheaper per carat than a faceted stone?

Because Rough stones haven’t been faceted yet, and will lose almost half their weight, so the labor and quality hasn’t been factored in yet. 

Does the mine an aquamarine comes from affect its price? 

It isn’t the be-all end-all. Sometimes you can find a stone from a known mine that’s less than one from a more obscure location, because the color is better in the lesser-known stone.

The Bottom Line

Aquamarine is a beautiful stone and is one of the more affordable options on the market, especially if you want a stone that’s pretty without breaking the bank.   We have many options for aquamarines to choose from, so check out our selection for your next project, or maybe a faceted stone that fits your needs. 

Remember: it isn’t the weight of the stone, it’s the color, so pick one with a stunning hue.