Ok, first thing is first. Look at the stunning, jaw dropping, mezmerizing blue-green color of this gorgeous (and pretty darn new to the market) gem, Aquaprase™️.
Since it came from an area only known to have some opal deposits, others thought it to be some type of opal or maybe chrysoprase. Yianni has handled countless stones and he trusted his instinct that something was different about this one. So, he went on a mission to confirm that it was an entirely unique and new variety. After sending some samples to GIA (the leading authority on diamond grading, colored stones and pearls), they finally confirmed it was in fact an entirely new type of Chalcedony that had not yet been discovered.
Image from Yianni Melas @gemexplorer
He decided on Aquaprase™️ for the name -a combination in reference to the beautiful blue (aqua) and green (prase) tonalities in the material. If you are familiar with chrysoprase, or gem silica, this gem may look familiar to you. Chrysoprase has a rich, often apple green or golden green that comes from the trace presence of nickle. Chrysocolla, or Gem silica (which is the most valuable variety of Chalcedony) has a beautiful saturated greenish-blue hue due to the presence of copper in the material. Aquaprase™️ on the other hand, displays rich blue-green tones and gets it's color from nickle and chromium based on lab testing. The chromium in particular is thought to be what gives this material it's unique glowing lusture as well as color.
Not only is the blue-green color gorgeous, but the matrix it grows within often results in beautiful cloud like white plumes and rich red-brown earth tones. The luminous glow of light bouncing through these is unreal! Like gem silica, it’s not easy to find this gem in this quality. It’s pretty rare, only coming from one location, and so unique in natural color. I’m so incredibly happy to have some and will be saving these for some special pieces. I fully admit going way over budget in getting these, but boy is it worth it. I’m sure once they are set with high polished metal behind them, they will glow like crazy! Might have to keep one for myself!
A little bit on the lovely man who recognized this stuff as something special