March’s Birthstone: Aquamarine
Aquamarine is thought of as a color just as much as a gemstone. Its signature blue can vary and sparkle in the right light, and the stone’s unique color can be manipulated and intensified with heat treatment.
The world’s largest specimen of aquamarine, the Dom Pedro Aquamarine, was found in the late 1980s in Brazil and cut from a stone that originally weighed around 100 pounds.
Aquamarine Color
Aquamarine is typically blue or cyan in color. Specifically, pale to deep blue with a tinge of green mixed in. So it’s no coincidence that the word “aquamarine” is often used to describe the often bluish-green glistening ocean waters that surround tropical islands.
March’s birthstone can also be found in other colors, including greenish-yellow beryl, which occurs most commonly in Brazil.
Aquamarine Significance
Aquamarine is connected with a handful of positive associations, including:
- Happiness
- Calm
- Youth
- Hope
- Trust
Aquamarine’s healing properties are thought to be affiliated with breathing and respiratory issues.
Aquamarine History
Aquamarine was thought by ancient Romans to provide protection while traveling across the sea. Sailors wore the stones or kept them close by as a sort of talisman to bring them good luck while out on the open ocean.
Aquamarine Facts
Aquamarine comes from the latin word “aqua marina,” which translates to “water of the sea.”
The Dom Pedro Aquamarine, the world's largest, is 10,363 carats and weights 4.6 pounds.
Aquamarine is the state gemstone of Colorado.
Sri Lanka yields much of the world’s traditional variants of aquamarine. It is also found in the United States — in Colorado, Idaho, and Wyoming — and in Brazil.
You Might Also Like
Alternate April Birthstones
Looking for an alternate April birthstone? Understandable. Diamonds can be challenging for multiple reasons. Perhaps you are trying to find a gift but don't want to splurge on April's traditional birthstone. Or perhaps you have issues with the diamond industry itself...
Pearl Farming: A Complete Guide
Finding naturally occurring pearls can be difficult and dangerous, so pearl farming has become the predominant method of producing pearls for jewelry and other applications.
5 Facts About Sapphires
August’s birthstone, sapphire, is among the most popular gemstones in the world, and for good reason! Let’s take a look at some interesting facts about sapphires.