Russian aquamarines are literally the stuff of legends and old mineralogy textbooks, with records back to the 1600s. Long the property of tzars and nobles, they were an early source of aquamarine gem rough to Europe, and specimens were precious and desired by the major collectors of the 1800s and early 1900s (as you can see in numerous old European mineral books). Large crystals of this size seldom came out, and the older material is noticeable for the texture (note the vertical striations), patterning (horizontal color bands with a special band near top), and color (a unique blue-green hue) as you see here. It might be more modern, that is possible — but it sure looks ancient and we suspect it is, given the source and his access to old collections over decades. The specimen masses just over 200 grams and is very robust, very colorful, and markedly different to the eye than anything from Brazil or Pakistan to which you might be tempted to compare it. The color, and the banding and patterning of the colors — it is different. The specimen is not repaired, and has only a small amount of edge wear to the termination. Given that the piece is surely antique anyway, and is large as well. We have chosen to leave it natural and not restored the small dings atop (with epoxy) as we might do on a contemporary specimen. A fine antique-style crystal from the important beryls collection of Bill Larson, long on display in Pala Intl.