At a glance: the sea blue variety of the mineral species Beryl, March's birthstone Aquamarine with its soothing hues has historically been a crowd pleaser.
Color
Aquamarine (meaning "seawater" in Latin) comes in shades of light, pastel blue all the way to deep saturated aqua, sometimes with a strong greenish tint. Its gorgeous hues reminds us of the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean!
Durability
Aquamarines are a 7.5-8 on the Moh's Scale of Hardness, making them durable enough for daily wear. They are not as hard as diamonds and sapphires, however, so they are a bit more susceptible to scratching. If you own an aquamarine ring, exercise more caution when wearing it than you would with diamond rings. Using warm water and mild soap on aquamarines is always fine. You should double check to make sure your aquamarine doesn't have any surface-reaching fractures or large inclusions before submerging it in an ultrasonic cleaner.
Symbolism and History
In the ancient past, mariners and sailors believed that aquamarine would protect calm waves and protect them while they were at sea. According to Greek mythology, Aphrodite adorned her daughter's hair with aquamarines as an expression of divine love. Aquamarine later became a popular bridal gift as it was thought to bring happiness in marriage. In color psychology, blue is often recognized as one of the most tranquil colors that is known to reduce stress and even lower your heart rate!
Where Aquamarines Are Found
Aquamarines can grow in massive crystals and is found in many different places all over the world. Brazil and Pakistan are two top producing countries, along with Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Zambia and Mozambique. Did you know we even have American Aquamarine that comes from mines in Colorado?
We love this clear, dreamy gemstone here at BJC and can't wait to add more Aquamarine pieces to our collection!