Aquamarine is a fascinating and beautiful gemstone. Women all over the world love its fine blue shades, which can complement almost any skin or eye color. It ranges in color from an almost colorless pale blue to blue-green or teal. The most prized color is a deep-blue aqua color.
beauty, honesty, loyalty, happiness…
If you can picture the cerulean blue waters of the Mediterranean, you will understand why the birthstone for March is named Aquamarine.
From the Roman word “Aqua,” meaning water, and “mare,” meaning sea, this pale blue gem does resemble the color of seawater.
Healing…
The association with water led to the belief that the Aquamarine was particularly powerful when immersed. The water in which this gemstone was submerged in ancient times was used to heal a variety of illnesses of the heart, liver, stomach, mouth and throat. The Aquamarine is a member of the beryl family. Beryl is a mineral that crystallizes within large grained igneous rocks on the earth’s crust. It varies in color from clear to vibrantly colored gemstones such as the Emerald. Beryl was used as far back as 2,000 years ago to correct vision, and it continues to be used today in the manufacture of eyeglasses. It is a very hard mineral (5-8 on the Mohs scale of hardness) making the Aquamarine a durable gemstone for use in jewelry.
Reawaken the love in your relationship…
A gift of Aquamarine symbolizes both safety and security, especially within long standing relationships. Some people even say that the Aquamarine reawakens love in a tired marriage, so if you want to bring back that spark in your partner’s eyes, you might consider this gem as an anniversary gift! The light blue Aquamarine arouses feelings of sympathy, trust, harmony and friendship. Good feelings. Feelings which are based on mutuality and which prove their worth in lasting relationships.
It takes heat…
Some gemstones are heated to high temperatures to enhance the color and/or clarity of a stone. Aquamarines are often heat treated to change a blue-green or teal colored stone to a pure blue. This results in a permanent color change. The majority of Aquamarines, unlike other gemstones, are flawless. It is a relatively abundant gem, the largest deposits being in Brazil, but other sources of Aquamarine are in China, India, Australia, Africa, and the United States.
Folklore, Legend, and Healing Properties
Since early times, aquamarine has been believed to endow the wearer with foresight, courage, and happiness. It is said to increase intelligence and make one youthful. As a healing stone, it is said to be effective as a treatment for anxiety and in the Middle Ages it was thought that aquamarine would reduce the effect of poisons. Another legend says that sailors wore aquamarine gemstones to keep them safe and prevent seasickness.
Stop by Gold Market Diamond Jewelers and take a look at the selection we have of this wonderful gemstone.
NOTE *Aquamarine is suggested as a gem to give on the 16th and 19th wedding anniversaries. * An alternate birthstone for March is Bloodstone, a dark green opaque quartz flecked with red spots. The name Bloodstone derives from the legendary belief that the red coloration resulted from the blood of Christ spilling onto green jasper during the crucifixion. For this reason, too, the stone has been called “martyr’s stone.” Bloodstone is mined in India, Brazil, Uruguay, Australia, and the United States. Ideal for carving into cameos and beads, this stone symbolizes courage.
