Aquamarine: March's Enchanting Birthstone

Aquamarine, meaning "water of the sea" is our modern birthstone for the month of March. Its delicate blue or turquoise color enlightens and reflects on those born of March. But what is the history of this enchanting birthstone? Why is it so enchanting?

Aquamarine is not only the modern birthstone for March, which was adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912, it is the planetary stone for Pisces, the sun sign for Scorpio and in the ancient Arabic, Hebrew, and Roman it is their birthstone for October. Aquamarine is also the suggested gem to give on the 16^th and 19^th wedding anniversaries.

The Aquamarine is part of the Beryl family. The name is from ancient Greek, beryl's, and means "precious blue-green color". These gemstones range from 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, the Mohs scale of hardness measures a substance's hardness or how resistant it is to being scratched. The scale ranges from 1 to 10.

The most valuable aquamarines come from Brazil, but it is also mined in Kenya and Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Russia. . Aquamarines on the market today are usually faceted, but when cut as a cabochon, they may display a cat's eye effect.

Aquamarine is colored from an almost indiscernible pale blue color to a strong sea blue by trace amounts of iron that find their way into the crystal structure. Some gemstones are heated to high temperatures to enhance the color and/or clarity of a stone. Aquamarines are often heat treated to change a blue-green or teal colored stone to a pure blue. This results in a permanent color change. The price of the stone rises with the intensity of its color.

Aquamarine is one of our most popular and best-known gemstones, and distinguishes itself by many good qualities. The aquamarine, according to legend, is blessed with many mystical powers. It is supposed to bring good fortune and harmony to the wearer. The divine and eternal blue of the aquamarine is supposed to bring good luck to married couples by strengthening the ties of marriage. Wearing this stone ensures a long lasting relationship because it evokes feelings of trust and harmony.

Throughout history, gem stones have been valued not only for their beauty and value, but also for their mystical and healing powers. Beautiful jewelry has been crafted by using all kinds of gem stones and worn by both men and women from olden times. Gems have been used not only as adornments, but also for healing ailments, both mental and physical. Long worn as charms by the ancient Romans, who staunchly believed in their magical and healing powers, even today they are used as healing agents. Ancient medicine men used gems not only for healing, but also to ward off evil spirits. It is widely believed that luck and good fortune favor the wearer of certain gems.

Men and women have always coveted this stone and worn it in the form of different ornaments. Aquamarine jewelry is worn not only to enhance one's beauty but also because it is supposed to posses healing powers. This gem is particularly lucky for a person whose birthstone it is. Aquamarine has given birth to all kinds legends concerning its origin and the strange mystical power it is bestowed with. A saying goes that that the aquamarine is part of a mermaid's treasure trove and is supposed to have been blessed by sea goddesses.

Thus it is a lucky stone for all sailors. It is supposed to protect them and bring them luck while at sea. The aquamarine, according to legend, is blessed with many mystical powers. It is supposed to bring good fortune and harmony to the wearer. The divine and eternal blue of the aquamarine is supposed to bring good luck to married couples by strengthening the ties of marriage. Wearing this stone ensures a long lasting relationship because it evokes feelings of trust and harmony. No wonder then that the aquamarine is often gifted for rte sixteenth as well as nineteenth marriage anniversaries, maybe to strengthen the marital bonds. Wearing this gem is also good for other relationships like friendship and companionship as the stone is believed to awaken not only feelings of love and mercy, but also honesty and loyalty. As such, this makes an ideal gift for close friends too. This gem is not only lucky but also protects the wearer against infidelity and deceit.

People also wear it to bring luck in new ventures and ensure financial success. Legend has it that when Scorpios (October 23^rd-to November 21^st) wear the aquamarine, their psychic powers are honed. Aquamarine magnifies occult powers and brings serenity of mind. Apart from the mystical nature of the aquamarine it has been proved to have a lot of healing powers too. Aquamarine, which has the translucent blue color of the sea, is supposed to have life giving properties of the sea. The earliest mention of the aquamarine as a healing agent is found in Roman history. The Romans called the gem 'water of the sea' and believed it had healing powers to cure many diseases. They even used goblets carved out of aquamarines, believing this would aid digestion, retention of water in the body etc.

Its modern use as a healing agent is well known. The aquamarine, which is associated with the sea, is strongly believed to aid in the cure of all ailments relating to kidneys, bladder, and retention of fluid in the body. The modern use of this gem as a diuretic is known by all. By wearing the aquamarine, the balance of water in the body is maintained and the body flushes out excess body fluid. In other words, the equilibrium of the fluid in the body is maintained. Other kidney and bladder disorders are also cured by wearing the aquamarine. Aquamarine also helps in repelling chronic ailments .For chronic disorders of the stomach, like indigestion, flatulence etc, it is supposed to be very helpful. Drinking the water from a ceramic vessel in which the aquamarine has been immersed, has proved to be extremely beneficial. This water has been known to aid people suffering from acidity problems and even ulcers and other inflammations in the stomach as well as the mouth.

Wearing the aquamarine around the neck or as earrings is believed to cure sore throats and even tonsillitis. This gem is also very beneficial for easing toothaches. Looking into the translucent core of this stone everyday is supposed to be very soothing for the eyes. Not only does the aquamarine heal physical ailments, this magical gem is supposed to ease mental stress and depression and grief. This gem has been known to sharpen mental clarity and improve memory. It brings serenity of mind to the wearer. The gem is also believed to inspire the wearer and stimulate creativity. It is used for calming and relaxing the mind and decrease nervous tension. It is also good for circulation of the blood. Remember, in order to benefit most from the aquamarine, it should be worn next to the skin.

Always remember to follow the golden rule for jewelry, always put it on last and take it off first. It is good to do this because there are harmful chemicals in make up and hairspray as well as perfume that can damage aquamarines. You always want to try and handle the gems as little as possible because the natural oils from the skin can dull their luster over a period of time. Aquamarines tend to become pale when exposed to excessive sunlight as well.

If you notice your aquamarine needs a shine or a touch up, always make sure to use a soft cloth. Soak aquamarine jewelry in luke-warm water. Add some mild liquid soap and leave for some time. Gently pick up piece by piece and clean it with a soft brush till all traces of grime disappear. Finally, wash off with plain water. Take care not to use a metallic brush as it may scratch the gem. Do the cleaning on a table or flat surface and not in the sink. A slight slip and it may roll into the drain and be lost forever.

Toothpaste, alcohol, acetone and ammonia are often advised as cleaning agents for gems. These tips are best ignored. These products may damage the surface of aquamarines to an extent where professional help would be required.

If your precious aquamarine does need repaired be careful when doing so, aquamarines are very sensitive to sudden temperature changes. The stones may be coated with a substance called borax or any other heat-shielding matter to avoid damage while soldering. Immense care must be taken while doing this. If the aquamarines are too valuable, then it is advisable to unset them before applying heat to the piece of jewelry.

But always remember that aquamarine is a gem to be worn and cherished.