Consider the aquamarine, the elegant birthstone for March

I consider the aquamarine to be an ethereal beauty of a Piscean gemstone. Rich in folklore, the stone takes its name from the Latin words for water and the sea. According to legend, sailors wore aquamarines to keep them safe and prevent seasickness.

Birthstone: Generally considered as the March birthstone, although other birthstones for March are the “Mystical birthstone,” jade, and bloodstone, considered by some to be the “Ayurvedic birthstone.”

Color:  A member of the beryl gemstone family, aquamarines range from an pale blue to saturated light blue (gorgeous!) to sea foam blue-green and even teal, with the most prized color a deep-sky blue aqua. Aquamarines are sometimes heat treated to change a blue-green or teal colored stone to a pure blue, resulting in a permanent color change.

Qualities & origin:  At 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale, the most valuable stones tend to come from Brazil, but aquamarines are also mined in Kenya, Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Russia. Cut aquamarines are usually faceted, but when cut into a cabochon, they may display a cat’s eye effect known as “asterism.”

Legend: Since the Middle Ages, aquamarines have been believed to endow the wearer with intelligence and youth. A mythical stone, they were worn to promote foresight, courage, and happiness. As a healing stone, they were said to be effective as a treatment for anxiety and reduce the effect of poisons.

I picked up several aquamarines in Tucson including a magnificent long emerald cut and an extremely unique serrated shield cut… and they are all begging to be designed into a ring or pendant.  Because of the stone’s hardness and beautiful water-like appearance, aquamarines make hardy rings, resisting chipping and dinging. The color can be arresting when worn as a pendant or in earrings, especially on blonds and women with blue eyes.

Come by the store and let me play show and tell, and explore some custom options together.