MARCH BIRTHSTONE - AQUAMARINE

The name aquamarine was derived by the Romans, ‘aqua’ meaning water and ‘mare’ meaning sea, because it looked like sea water. They were considered sacred to Neptune, god of the sea. It was associated with safe voyages as well as protection against perils and monsters of the sea.

The aquamarine was believed to possess medicinal and healing powers, curing ailments of the stomach, liver, jaws and throat. It was believed to be an effective antidote against poison and was thought to be the source of power. It was called the ‘magic mirror’ because it was used to tell fortunes and answer questions about the future.

Aquamarines vary in color from deep blue to blue-green of different intensities, caused by traces of iron. Naturally occurring deep blue stones are the most prized because they are rare and expensive. It has a hardness of 7.5 – 8 on Mohs Scale.

Aquamarine is also the gemstone for the 19th Wedding Anniversary and the official state gem of Colorado! The finest Aquamarine can be found in Russia and it can also be found in Mt Antero and Colorado in the United States, Brazil, Zambia, Madagascar, Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya.