March Birthstone
Aquamarine
Also: Bloodstone
"Courage, clarity, safe passage, and health"
About Aquamarine
Chemical Formula
Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈ (beryl) with iron impurities
Crystal System
Hexagonal
Hardness
7.5–8 on Mohs scale
Color
Blue-Green
Primary Origins
Brazil, Pakistan, Mozambique, Nigeria, Madagascar
Aquamarine is the color of shallow tropical water above white sand — that luminous blue-green that seems to carry light inside itself rather than just reflecting it. It is one of those gemstones that is immediately evocative without requiring explanation. You look at a fine aquamarine and you think of the sea. For two thousand years of human history, sailors knew this, which is why they carried the stone to sea as protection and named it aqua marina — ocean water. There is something wonderfully straightforward about this relationship between a stone and its meaning: aquamarine looks like the sea, it was believed to protect seafarers, therefore it became the sailor's talisman. Not everything has to be complicated. Aquamarine belongs to the beryl family — the same mineral family as emerald. While emerald's color comes from chromium and is often included (making each stone somewhat turbulent and individual), aquamarine owes its color to iron and is typically very clean and transparent. A fine aquamarine is exactly what a body of calm water looks like from above: pure, clear, and quietly infinite. The gem-quality crystals can grow to extraordinary size — the Dom Pedro aquamarine was discovered in Brazil in the 1980s, roughly the size of a man's forearm, and is now displayed at the Smithsonian after being carved into one of the most spectacular gemstone sculptures ever created. If you are a March birthday, your stone is one that has carried the prayers of sailors, the hopes of the sea, and now sits at the Smithsonian as evidence of what can happen when a stone finds its ideal form.
History
Aquamarine has been used as a gemstone for at least 2,000 years. Roman fishermen called it aqua marina (sea water) and believed it protected them from storms and sea monsters. Ancient Greek sailors wore aquamarine amulets carved with Neptune, the god of the sea [Kunz, G.F., 1913. The Curious Lore of Precious Stones]. In the Middle Ages, aquamarine was believed to be an antidote to poison and was used as a remedy for ailments of the eyes and stomach. The stone was also associated with marital happiness — it was said to reawaken love in married couples whose relationship had grown cold.
Mythology & Cultural Traditions
Aquamarine's mythology is rooted in the sea. Ancient stories described the stone as treasure from the ocean floor, dropped from the jewel chests of mermaids and sea nymphs. One Greek myth claims that aquamarine was sacred to Poseidon (Neptune) and formed from ocean water crystallized into gemstone. Sailors believed that throwing an aquamarine into the sea during a storm would calm the waves — a practice that presumably discouraged the habit of carrying one's most valuable gem onboard ships.
Geology & Formation
Aquamarine is the blue-green variety of beryl — the same mineral family as emerald, morganite, and heliodor. Its characteristic sea-blue color comes from trace amounts of iron (Fe²⁺) in the crystal lattice. It forms in granitic pegmatites — coarse-grained igneous rocks that cool very slowly, allowing large crystals to develop. The largest gem-quality aquamarine crystal ever found, the Dom Pedro, was discovered in Brazil in the 1980s; cut by Bernd Munsteiner, it is now a 10,363-carat sculpture at the Smithsonian Institution. [Source: GIA Gem Encyclopedia, gia.edu; Mindat.org]
Famous Aquamarines
The Dom Pedro Aquamarine
The world's largest faceted aquamarine at 10,363 carats, cut by German gem sculptor Bernd Munsteiner and donated to the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in 2012.
The Brazilian Princess
A 4-inch long faceted aquamarine of 884 carats given to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in 1936 by the Brazilian government, now in the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library.
Did You Know?
The Dom Pedro aquamarine at the Smithsonian is 10,363 carats — the largest faceted aquamarine in the world.
Aquamarine and emerald are both varieties of the mineral beryl, making them gemological siblings.
The color of aquamarine in nature ranges from nearly colorless to deep blue-green — most commercial stones are heat-treated to remove greenish tones.
Care Instructions
Clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush or in an ultrasonic cleaner (for stones without inclusions). Avoid steam cleaners. Aquamarine can fade slightly with prolonged exposure to intense light. Store separately from diamonds and other hard gems. [GIA, gia.edu]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the birthstone for March?
The primary birthstone for March is Aquamarine, with alternates including Bloodstone.
What color is Aquamarine?
Aquamarine is Blue-Green. Its chemical formula is Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈ (beryl) with iron impurities.
What does Aquamarine symbolize?
Aquamarine symbolizes Courage, clarity, safe passage, and health.
How hard is Aquamarine?
Aquamarine rates 7.5–8 on Mohs scale on the Mohs scale.
Where is Aquamarine found?
Aquamarine is primarily found in Brazil, Pakistan, Mozambique, Nigeria, Madagascar.
How should I care for Aquamarine jewelry?
Clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush or in an ultrasonic cleaner (for stones without inclusions). Avoid steam cleaners. Aquamarine can fade slightly with prolonged exposure to intense light. Store separately from diamonds and other hard gems. [GIA, gia.edu]
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