march birthstone

What is the birthstone for March?The birthstone for March is the aquamarine stone. It is believed that the origination of assigning a birthstone for each month dates back to a breastplate that Aaron, the older brother of Moses, wore, which represented the Twelve Tribes of Israel. In biblical times, people wore the gemstone assigned to month that the stone represented as a talisman. In 1912, the American National Association of Jewelers created an official list of gemstones that represented each month with the birthstone for March being aquamarine.

What is the aquamarine color?The March birthstone color is  aquamarine and ranges in color from pale-blue, to greenish-blue, to sky-blue, to blue-green. In all shades, the aquamarine color is beautiful, serene, and peaceful.  A deeper blue aquamarine color in jewels are more valuable and are often found in larger stones.

What is the origination of the aquamarine meaning?The aquamarine meaning is derived from the Latin word, “agua,” meaning “water,” and “marina” meaning “the sea” – Water of the Sea.

Where is aquamarine, the birthstone for March, found?The birthstone for March, aquamarine, is found in mines located in Brazil, Australia, Afghanistan, Africa, China, Columbia, India, Russia, and the United States. Aquamarine stone is Colorado’s state gem.

What is the largest aquamarine stone found?In 1910, an aquamarine stone weighing 243 pounds (110 kg) and 19″ long was discovered in Marambaia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The largest cut aquamarine stone is the Dom Pedro aquamarine, which is located in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History.

What are the properties of an aquamarine crystal?Aquamarine is the most flawless of all crystals and has excellent transparency and clarity.  The birthstone for March is so flawless, when eyeglasses were first made, slivers of aquamarine was used to correct near-sighted vision. Aquamarine is a variety of the mineral, beryl, which has hexagonal crystals. Pure beryl is colorless, but when Fe2 and Fe3 (iron atoms) are present in the beryl, the color can vary from pale blue to deep blue. Aquamarine crystal ranges from 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, so it is a relatively hard stone.

What are the healing powers of the aquamarine gemstone?Although the healing powers of crystals are not founded in science, it is believed that the aquamarine stone can cure insomnia, reduce anxiety, enhance communication, mental clarity, and emotional balance. During the Roman times, aquamarine crystals were believed to cure ailments of the mouth, throat, jaw, and liver.

History, legend, and ancient uses of aquamarine, the March birthstone.The first documented use of the aquamarine crystal was in Ancient Greece between 480 and 300 B.C. when the stone was used as an amulet engraved with Poseidon, the Greek God of the Sea, on a chariot. Because of the relationship between the aquamarine stone and the sea, it was used as a talisman to bring sailors good luck and a safe and prosperous journey across the ocean. Aquamarine stone is known as a sailor’s gem and legend tells us that the aquamarine crystal was the prized possession of mermaids, so it would protect sailors during the hazardous journey across the seas. The Romans associated the beautiful blue stone with Neptune, King of the Sea, and carried the stone as an amulet to protect against the dangers of the sea. Ancient Egyptians put aquamarine crystals in tombs for the journey to the afterlife.

How do you clean aquamarine jewelry?The best way to get beautiful results when cleaning your aquamarine jewelry is to bring it to a professional jeweler to clean it. To clean your aquamarine jewelry at home, you can purchase a delicate jewelry cleaner, where you dip the jewelry in a solution for 10-15 seconds and use the gentle brush to clean the aquamarine stone. You may also use warm, soapy water and a soft toothbrush to clean the aquamarine. Add a small amount of ammonia to the soapy water to increase the sparkle of the gem.

How do you care for aquamarine jewelry?Aquamarine jewelry should be removed when doing work with the hands and care should be taken to avoid banging the stone. When not being worn, aquamarine jewelry should be stored in a drawer or jewelry box to avoid exposure to light, since an aquamarine can fade. If an aquamarine crystal fades due to light exposure, its color can return with irradiation.

What is the aquamarine stone value?Like a diamond, the aquamarine value is determined by cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. The deeper blue in color an aquamarine is, the more valuable it is.
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