March's Birthstone: Aquamarine!

March's Birthstone: Aquamarine!

March's birthstone is aquamarine, a storied gemstone with a rich history, cultural associations, and perhaps most importantly... known for its sumptuous shades of blue-green that range from translucent to opaque, and from icy blue to milky blue to a vivid sea glass teal.

Aquamarine’s history

Aquamarine has been adorning the human figure for more than 2,000 years, has been found in Greek and Roman jewelry, and was thought to be the treasure of mermaids, capable of protecting sailors at sea.

In Latin, aquamarine means water of the sea, which is certainly appropriate given the lovely colors found in this stone, not to mention the lore!

In the Middle Ages, aquamarine was thought to have value as a detoxification agent, to protect against poisoning, and to encourage tranquility. By the time of the Renaissance (14th to 17th centuries), aquamarine was finding its way into the crowns of royalty, as well as jewelry among the nobility.

And by the 19th century, with large-scale mining taking place in Brazil, aquamarine became increasingly popular and remains a favorite in jewelry design.

Variations to enjoy

Devil aquamarine (a.k.a. Devil’s aquamarine) is a lovely, somewhat moody variation that frequently occurs in darker, more saturated hues with black tourmaline inclusions or whispers of white. 

Another variation is moss aquamarine with colors that are even more mysterious and moody, showcasing “mossy” mineral inclusions, frequently in olive, grey-green and grayish teal tones yielding a more organic and Boho vibe in jewelry.

Aquamarine’s allure

Color (of course!) is what draws us to this stunning stone with its rich blues and greens so suggestive of the ocean's many moods.

A member of the beryl family (as are emerald and morganite), aquamarine is a favorite to work with not only for its color but its availability in larger formats (crystals can grow to a foot in length), and its ability to be cut in a variety of ways.

One of the pleasures of designing with (and wearing!) aquamarine is that it complements every skin tone. Moreover, it is at home with every hue of precious metal, as in examples of aquamarine with silver and with gold, shown throughout this post.

Symbolism? Energy?

It’s no wonder that aquamarine is said to encourage serenity with its associations to a calm sea and safe passage, not to mention historical use in protective amulets.

Considered a stone of courage (as well as a mermaid‘s treasure), aquamarine is believed to promote relationship harmony, emotional balance, and to reduce stress. It is also regarded as promoting clear communication, useful in conflict resolution.

Aquamarine is thought to possess excellent spiritual and healing synergy when paired with amethyst, moonstone, and variations of quartz including rose quartz (often deemed a "love stone").

Aesthetically, aquamarine pairs well with other cool-toned gemstones along with others in its same beryl family, which includes peachy-pink morganite, emerald, and yellowish heliodor. Additionally, it pairs beautifully with pearls, generally associated with purity and wisdom.

Adding lapis and gold to the mix makes for an aesthetically elegant result, with lapis adding its complementary energy of spiritual insight.

Fun facts about aquamarine

  • Aquamarine is found across the globe and is available in several varieties, providing a host of options to those of us in love with this stunning stone.
  • Aquamarine crystals can grow quite long, and some very large stones can be found. One of the most famous (and largest cut aquamarine) was found in Brazil, the "Dom Pedro," originally weighing some 60 pounds!
  • The concentration of iron is the significant factor impacting aquamarine's color. The more iron, the deeper the hue.
  • Aquamarine mined in Brazil includes pale blue, light blue, as well as greenish-blue color variations. The same is true for aquamarine mined in Madagascar and Zambia, while other locations primarily mine greenish-blue aquamarine.
  • Colorado's Mount Antero is a "closer to home" source of this gorgeous gemstone in greenish-blue hues. And aquamarine is Colorado's state gemstone.
  • The president of Brazil gifted Queen Elizabeth II aquamarine and diamond jewelry for her coronation in 1953, and Princess Diana had a magnificent, much-photographed 30-carat aquamarine ring.  
  • In addition to its range of dreamy hues, aquamarine holds up well to daily wear with excellent durability (7.5 - 8 on the Moh's Scale) making it a favorite in jewelry design.

By the way...

By the way, several renowned visual artists were March babies, among them Michelangelo and Vincent Van Gogh. Two luminaries of modern art born in March are Piet Mondrian and Josef Albers, both known for their explorations of color in rectangular and square forms, to very different effect.

You will likely recognize some of the imagery that Mondrian and Albers are famous for, and a little exploration of their work will no doubt surprise and delight!

Curious?

Please feel free to inquire about any of the jewelry illustrated in this post, including those items not yet linked on the site. 

 

Partial painting images above: two compositions in red, yellow and blue (1927, 1928), Piet Mondrian; p. 84, "Mondrian"; Serge Fauchereau; Rizzoli International Publications, Inc.; New York, NY (1994).

Jewelry shown above:

 

 

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