Mars Birthstones:
For those lucky people with March birthdays, two birthstones are associated with this early spring month: aquamarine and bloodstone. Both gemstones are very different from each other in appearance, but they all make beautiful jewelry. Read more about the March birthstone below.
Aquamarine:
Basic facts:
Moonstone: March
Origin: Afghanistan, Brazil, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan & Tanzania
Colors: Pastel blue to blue/green
Family: Beryl: Be3Al2Si6O18
Hardness: 7.5 - 8
Refractive Index: 1.56 – 1.60
Specific Gravity: 2.68 – 2.74
Treatment: Usually not treated
With its gorgeous color and stunning clarity, aquamarine is very popular with both collectors and wearers of fine jewelry. It comes as no surprise that the name derives from the Latin words for "water of the sea."
Blue, one of the world's most popular colors, is known for its calming effect, and of all the shades of blue available, none can match the calm found in aquamarine. Aquamarine embodies all that is natural. Aquamarine, the sparkling monthstone for March, ranges from pastel blue to bright green, its tones reminiscent of a refreshing ocean breeze.
Myths and legends
Since ancient times, aquamarine has been seen as a gemstone with great visions, often aquamarine crystals have been used as eyes in the creation of statues that symbolize power and wisdom. According to legend, anyone who laid eyes on these statues became a person of great wisdom, as well as gained the ability to see into the future. From time to time these statues have been placed in strategic locations near the coast where they could appease the god Poseidon and thus ensure a safe return for them on ships at sea.
Aquamarine has long been associated with its ability to capture oceanic energy. When amulets made of aquamarine were worn, sailors believed that an unparalleled brilliance would infuse their souls. It was not uncommon for fishermen out on the high seas, and in the event of a storm, to throw aquamarines overboard to appease Poseidon's wrath.
Interestingly, Thai culture contains a common belief that aquamarine can ward off seasickness and prevent the wearer from drowning. Due to its association with the sea, aquamarine is considered a gemstone of purification and cleansing that washes the mind with fresh clear thoughts and promotes personal expression. Its calming effects make it a popular gemstone for those who practice meditation, as it is also believed to eradicate fears and phobias.
Aquamarine facts
Colored by trace amounts of iron, aquamarine is a member of the beryl family whose members are also emerald, red emerald (Bixbit), goshenite (colorless), heliodor (yellow) and morganite (pink). The color varies depending on the relative concentrations and placement of iron within the beryl crystal structure.
Brazil has been the world's largest supplier of aquamarine for decades. The famous Marambaia area is one of the most important sources of fine aquamarine in the world. Today, however, fine aquamarines are found in several African countries, including Nigeria, Mozambique, Zambia and Madagascar, although not to the same extent as the Brazilian mines. The different shades of aquamarine are distinguished by their own names. Santa Maria is the name of the rare, intense deep blue aquamarine found in the Santa Maria de Itabira mines in Brazil.
Another Brazilian beauty is the deep blue Espirito Santo, which comes from the Brazilian state of the same name. Martha Rocha aquamarine is named after a Brazilian beauty queen from 1954.
For those lucky people with March birthdays, two birthstones are associated with this early spring month: aquamarine and bloodstone. Both gemstones are very different from each other in appearance, but they all make beautiful jewelry. Read more about the March birthstone below.
Aquamarine:
Basic facts:
Moonstone: March
Origin: Afghanistan, Brazil, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan & Tanzania
Colors: Pastel blue to blue/green
Family: Beryl: Be3Al2Si6O18
Hardness: 7.5 - 8
Refractive Index: 1.56 – 1.60
Specific Gravity: 2.68 – 2.74
Treatment: Usually not treated
With its gorgeous color and stunning clarity, aquamarine is very popular with both collectors and wearers of fine jewelry. It comes as no surprise that the name derives from the Latin words for "water of the sea."
Blue, one of the world's most popular colors, is known for its calming effect, and of all the shades of blue available, none can match the calm found in aquamarine. Aquamarine embodies all that is natural. Aquamarine, the sparkling monthstone for March, ranges from pastel blue to bright green, its tones reminiscent of a refreshing ocean breeze.
Myths and legends
Since ancient times, aquamarine has been seen as a gemstone with great visions, often aquamarine crystals have been used as eyes in the creation of statues that symbolize power and wisdom. According to legend, anyone who laid eyes on these statues became a person of great wisdom, as well as gained the ability to see into the future. From time to time these statues have been placed in strategic locations near the coast where they could appease the god Poseidon and thus ensure a safe return for them on ships at sea.
Aquamarine has long been associated with its ability to capture oceanic energy. When amulets made of aquamarine were worn, sailors believed that an unparalleled brilliance would infuse their souls. It was not uncommon for fishermen out on the high seas, and in the event of a storm, to throw aquamarines overboard to appease Poseidon's wrath.
Interestingly, Thai culture contains a common belief that aquamarine can ward off seasickness and prevent the wearer from drowning. Due to its association with the sea, aquamarine is considered a gemstone of purification and cleansing that washes the mind with fresh clear thoughts and promotes personal expression. Its calming effects make it a popular gemstone for those who practice meditation, as it is also believed to eradicate fears and phobias.
Aquamarine facts
Colored by trace amounts of iron, aquamarine is a member of the beryl family whose members are also emerald, red emerald (Bixbit), goshenite (colorless), heliodor (yellow) and morganite (pink). The color varies depending on the relative concentrations and placement of iron within the beryl crystal structure.
Brazil has been the world's largest supplier of aquamarine for decades. The famous Marambaia area is one of the most important sources of fine aquamarine in the world. Today, however, fine aquamarines are found in several African countries, including Nigeria, Mozambique, Zambia and Madagascar, although not to the same extent as the Brazilian mines. The different shades of aquamarine are distinguished by their own names. Santa Maria is the name of the rare, intense deep blue aquamarine found in the Santa Maria de Itabira mines in Brazil.
Another Brazilian beauty is the deep blue Espirito Santo, which comes from the Brazilian state of the same name. Martha Rocha aquamarine is named after a Brazilian beauty queen from 1954.