March-Aquamarine

March Aquamarine 

March's two birthstones- aquamarine and bloodstone, are quite different to the eye, but similar to each other in their reputation, as protectors of good health. The birthstone aquamarine birthstone suggests shades of the sea. Green-blue to pale, minutely greenish blue-tinted, faceted aquamarines are usually un-included and clear like water, representing the purity of soul and spirit. The bloodstone is usually cabochon and dark in color, but green with an appearance of red iron oxide spottiness. That's said to be the "blood" that can give it the ability to provide vitality and strength to its user. Learn more about two March birthstones here. Read on for details about their meanings and where they are found.

Diamond Birthstone Meaning & History

Aquamarine Birthstone gets its name from Latin, meaning seawater. Its history dates back to old mariners who believed this gem would calm waves and keep sailors safe at sea. This March birthstone is also said to bring happiness in marriage. The wearer of beryl was considered to be protected against foes during battle and litigation. Also, it was believed to render the wearer unconquerable and amiable and to quicken the intellect.

Aquamarine is not only the birthstone for March, but the gem is also given as a present on the 19th wedding anniversary. Famous ones include that in 1936 the government of Brazil gave First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt a dark blue rectangular step-cut aquamarine that weighed 1,298 carats (ct). It was the larger of two stones faceted from a piece of aquamarine rough that itself weighed an impressive 2.9 pounds (1.3 kilograms). It is now housed at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, New York. A celebrated attraction at the Smithsonian Institution is the 10,363 ct (about 4.6 pounds) Dom Pedro Aquamarine – believed to be the largest faceted aquamarine in the world. The approximately 14 inch (36-centimeter) high obelisk was made by renowned German lapidary Berndt Munsteiner using the fantasy cut technique.

Where Is Aquamarine Found?

The Brazilian state of Minas Gerais has been an important source of aquamarine for the past two centuries. Travel there and you’ll find a changing panorama of landscapes: rocky hills, rivers, and scrub brush dominate the central and eastern regions; savannahs, forests, and streams checker the west; and lush green hills roll southward. Aquamarines occur in primary (hard rock) and secondary (weathered) pegmatite deposits within the eastern part of the state, close to the gem center of Teófilo Otoni.

The Aquamarine birthstone is also found high in the Karakorum foothills of Pakistan. To access the deposits, miners must climb steep paths to elevations of 9,800 to 13,000+ feet (3,000 to more than 4,000 meters) and work the sides of forbidding cliffs. Below this inhospitable rocky world lie fertile valleys, rushing rivers, and small towns. Aquamarine from this area has been described as "water clear."

Aquamarine Birthstone Care & Cleaning

With a hardness of 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale, this March birthstone is hard enough for daily wear. Caring for the gem is easy. Use warm water, mild dish soap, and a toothbrush to scrub behind the birthstone where dirt can collect. Ultrasonic cleaners and steam cleaning are usually safe options as long as there are no fractures or liquid inclusions in the gem.