Offering health and hope and also courage, the beautiful light blue Aquamarine is the birthstone for March. We look at the characteristics of this very special stone...
This enigmatic stone ranges from a clear color to a shade between greenish blue and light blue, so it can be sometimes hard to pin down and identify easily. The lighter colored stones, however, are the most common type.
Aquamarine has the beautiful description of “water of the sea”, named after the Latin phrase. It is a variety of the beryl mineral, which is most famous for the green emerald which is rich in chromium and is one of the most ‘precious four’ gems in the world (along with diamonds, rubies and sapphires).
Although aquamarine and emerald are connected, they are very different – particularly in relation to their color. The largest find of high-quality aquamarine in the world dates back to 1910 when a huge stone with a total weight of over 100,000 carats was found in a mine called the ‘Minas Gerais’ in Marambaya, Brazil. Brazil remains the leading producer of aquamarine and other deposits of aquamarine are sourced from several US locations, India, China, Australia, Madagascar, Pakistan, several locations in Africa and further afield.
There is a lot of mythology based around the aquamarine. According to legend, aquamarine came from the treasure chest of mermaids and was known as “the sailor’s lucky stone”. Named after seawater, the stone is associated with people who spend at lot of time at sea and the Greeks and Romans believed that aquamarine would ensure a safe and prosperous passage across stormy seas. Some people, to this day, even believe that the stone wards off sea sickness.
One of the most versatile qualities of the aquamarine is that it complements almost every skin or eye color and this is what makes it a particular perennial favorite. It is easy to wear and priced very moderately and it is a great addition to any jewelry collection.
The beautiful March birthstone Claddagh aquamarine ring is available at Rings from Ireland in silver, 10k and 14k yellow gold. It is also available in 10k and 14k white gold.