March Birthstone : Aquamarine

Birthstone Color: Pale Blue

    A gem whose name means sea water, Aquamarine captures the beauty of the sea. This member of the beryl family, which also includes emerald, is found in a range of pastel blue and greenish blue shades, from the palest hint to a deep sky blue. The elegant icy color looks as fresh with earth tones as with other paste shades. And it is the perfect accompaniment to grey and navy.

    Derived from the Roman word "Aqua," meaning water, and "mare," meaning sea, this pale blue gem does indeed resemble the color of seawater.  The ancient Romans believed that the Aquamarine was sacred to Neptune, the god of the sea, having fallen from the jewel boxes of sirens and washed onto shore.  Early sailors wore aquamarine talismans, engraved with the likeness of Neptune, as protection against dangers at sea. 

    The association with water led to the belief that the Aquamarine was particularly powerful when immersed.  Water in which this gemstone had been submerged was used in ancient times to heal a variety of illnesses of the heart, liver, stomach, mouth and throat.  Aquamarines were also used to reverse poisoning and to aid in fortune telling. 

     Legends say that aquamarine is the treasure of mermaids, with the power to keep sailors safe at sea. Its powers are aid to be even stronger when it is immersed in water.  In addition to calming the waves, in legend aquamarine also has a soothing influence on relationships, especially on married couples. Its power to ensure a long and happy marriage makes it a good anniversary gift. A dream of aquamarine means that you will meet new friends.

    The Aquamarine is a member of the beryl family.  Beryl is a mineral that crystallizes within large grained igneous rocks on the earth's crust.  It varies in color from clear to vibrantly colored gemstones such as the Emerald.  Beryl was used as far back as 2,000 years ago to correct vision, and it continues to be used today in the manufacture of eyeglasses.  It is a very hard mineral, making the Aquamarine a durable gemstone for use in jewelry. 

    Aquamarines are mined in a number of exotic places including Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Pakistan and Mozambique, but most of the gemstones available today come from Brazil.

    Because the color is generally pale, fine aquamarine is expected to have good clarity. This gem is often cut in ovals and emerald cuts. More saturated colors are unusual in small sizes: usually it takes some size for the color to reach a darker shade.  With a hardness of 7.5, aquamarine is a durable gem perfect for everyday wear. Clean with mild dish soap: use a toothbrush to scrub behind the stone where dust can collect.