Aquamarine, birthstone for March

Aquamarine, the birthstone of March has long been a symbol of youth, health and hope.

Aquamarine, the birthstone of March has long been a symbol of youth, health and hope.  

Derived from Latin, Aquamarine means water of the sea and legend has it that every mermaid has this beautiful stone in her jewellery box.  Sailors took aquamarine with them on their long journeys in the belief that it would make for a safe return to their loved ones. People who make a study of stones believe that aquamarine is a stone of courage and that it has calming energies.

The colour can vary, light blue, blue or even blue-green. By the 19th century the popular and preferred colour for aquamarine was sea green, but in modern times the more popular colour is sky blue. 

It is not unusual to see big crystals. The largest aquamarine was found in Brazil in 1910. It weighed 110.5 kilograms and was cut into many stones. The modern preference is for aquamarine cut in an emerald shape but obviously there are other shapes available to suit your personal taste.

On Moh’s scale, aquamarine measures a hardness of 7.5 to 8. It is a durable stone that can withstand everyday wear and tear. Over the years we have seen many vintage rings with aquamarine in impeccable condition so choosing this stone for your jewellery will mean that the generations to come will also derive joy from it.