March (Aquamarine)

Aquamarine is the birthstone for March and gemstone for the 19th anniversary.

As the name implies, aquamarine refers to water, hence its long association with the tranquil blue of the sea. It actually gets its name from Latin words meaning water and sea.

The gemstone ranges in light tones from greenish blue to blue-green. The ideal color is sea blue, not too pale or too green.

In ancient times the stone was said to aide seafarers. It has been believed to endow the wearer with foresight, courage, and happiness. It is a universal symbol of youth, hope, and health.

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.

Aqua has a hardness of 7 1/2 to 8 on Mohs hardness scale and belongs to the gemstone family beryl, which also includes emerald. It is found in Brazil, Nigeria and Zambia.