06/03/2026
Beryls have always been an important part of my passion for collecting, and have been a staple in the private collections I build and curate. Although there seems to be billions of aquamarines that come from Pakistan, there are only two aquamarines of size that posses the qualities of this one.
This aquamarine is internally flawless, and for the size is impossible to find. However what really makes this piece an 11, is it’s color, the saturation on it is insane. It has very unique etchings down the sides of the crystal, and posses luster that is seldom found “naturally” 😂 on crystals!
The only other single aquamarine crystal of real size I have seen that even remotely compares is the very famous and as well know Joseph Freilich Aquamarine. I owned it for 4 years and unfortunately sold it to a dear friend. It is easy to find for it has been published many times. After selling the Freilich aquamarine I immediately regretted it… so I began hounding Marcus to sell me the only other comparable. After many years of back and forth I finally was able to acquire this ridiculous aquamarine. I left the iron stain on it because I love that it has not been through a lab, not that it needs it. 💯🙏🤯🥰
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Aquamarine beryl, 14.5 cm, from the Shigar Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.
Will Johnson collection
References: Peters et al. (1985); Blauwet (2004).
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