Aquamarine – birthstone for the month of March
Aquamarine is associated with happiness and understanding. It stands as a symbol of consistency when presented to a new bride.
The word aquamarine is derived from the Latin words aqua (water) and mare (sea), meaning "water of the sea", an accurate description of the gemstone's color, which ranges from a pale green to blue.
Aquamarine's color is caused by trace amounts of iron that permeate the crystalline structure and is one of several gemstones belonging to the beryl mineral group.
Since it was so strongly associated with the sea in earlier times, many sailors carried aquamarine as a good-luck stone.
Buying Tips
The abundance of naturally occurring Aquamarine makes it affordable, more so than synthetic aquamarines, which are expensive and difficult to manufacture. Synthetic blue spinel, another mineral, is easy and inexpensive to produce, and it is often mistakenly sold as "Synthetic Aquamarine."
The blue variety of Aquamarine is the most valuable and greenish stones are sometimes changed to the highly prized blue shade by heating them in an electric furnace to 842° F.
With a Moh's hardness rating of 7.5, Aquamarine is a durable and very wearable, clear, brilliant gem that makes a wonderful choice for all types of jewelry.
