March
Birthstone : Aquamarine
Birthstone Color: Pale Blue
If you can picture the cerulean blue waters of the
Mediterranean, you will understand why the birthstone
for March is named Aquamarine. Derived from
the Roman word "Aqua," meaning water, and "mare,"
meaning sea, this pale blue gem does indeed resemble
the color of seawater. The ancient Romans believed
that the Aquamarine was sacred to Neptune, the god
of the sea, having fallen from the jewel boxes of
sirens and washed onto shore. Early sailors
wore aquamarine talismans, engraved with the likeness
of Neptune, as protection against dangers at sea.
The
association with water led to the belief that the
Aquamarine was particularly powerful when immersed.
Water in which this gemstone had been submerged was
used in ancient times to heal a variety of illnesses
of the heart, liver, stomach, mouth and throat.
Aquamarines were also used to reverse poisoning and
to aid in fortune telling.
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, making
the Aquamarine a durable gemstone for use in jewelry.
Aquamarine
varies in color from blue-green to a light sky blue,
but gems containing green are often heat-treated to
remove this less desirable color. 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.
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!
Alternate
Birthstone
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.
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