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Birthstone of the Month



March-Aquamarine 

The blue of Aquamarine is divine and eternal, that of the light blue sky and of the deep blue ocean. This, no doubt, is why
its name is derived from the Latin for water (aqua) and for sea (mare).  Legend states that sailors have long regarded it as their lucky stone, believing it would prevent seasickness, ensure a sound voyage, and guarantee a safe return.

 

Aquamarine is also an ideal gem for married couples as it has a soothing effect, assisting them as they work out their differences and insuring a long and happy marriage. Aquamarine can re-awaken love in long-married couples and bring the woman who wears it joy and wealth.  It also aids in the making of new friendships for its light blue color arouses feelings of sympathy, trust and harmony.

As a healing stone, it can be an effective treatment for anxiety, depression and grief. Aquamarine relieves cough, works against nerve pain, glandular problems, toothache, and disorders of the neck, jaw and throat. It strengthens liver and kidneys and diminishes problems with eyes, ears and stomach. Since early times, aquamarine has been believed to endow the wearer with foresight, courage, and happiness and it is said to increase intelligence and make one youthful. In the Middle Ages it was even thought that aquamarine would reduce the effect of poisons and protect against the wiles of the devil.


Aquamarine (along with Bloodstone) is the birth stone for March.  It is the Zodiac sign of Scorpio as well as the Planetary Stone of Pisces. It is also the gemstone for the 19th Wedding Anniversary.


A member of the Beryl family, Aquamarine is related to the Emerald, but, unlike its famous green cousin, Aquamarine is almost entirely free of flaws and inclusions.  Iron is the substance that gives Aquamarine its color, a hue that ranges from an almost indiscernible pale blue to a strong sea-blue. The more intense the color of an Aquamarine, the more value it has. The most valuable Aquamarines come from Brazil, but raw crystals are also mined in Kenya and Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Russia.