March Birthstone
Traditionally, Aquamarine is the Birthstone for March
Aquamarine is the blue variety of beryl. It gets its name from Latin, meaning "water from the sea". Aquamarine stones can be found that are colored anywhere from the palest blue-white with just an overtone of blue, to a deep ocean blue. There is "something" about an aquamarine that distinguishes it them from sky blue topaz, or other similar gemstones. It is in how it "hits the eye". Now, I will have to admit that, what I just wrote is about as unscientific a statement as I have ever heard, or written --- myself. However, the fact remains that aquamarine has a "softer" look to it than other gemstones of the same color, size, shape, and hue. One feature that distinguishes them from other similar gemstones, is their complete lack of any gray or violet overtones, and their incredible luster. With a hardness factor of 7.5 to 8, on a scale from 1 to 10, aquamarine is greatly prized as a durable gemstone. As a rule, the deeper, darker rich blue aquamarines are more costly than pale, greenish ones. (To my dismay, several of my clients had been told by other jewelers, that the palest, clearest aquamarines were the most valuable ones. I had to get out my gemstone catalogs to dispel that fabrication.) Aquamarines are simply beautiful gemstones, no matter what color they are, as long as theyare well-cut, well-polished, and free of flaws. Some beliefs about aquamarine, which we offer solely for interesting trivia, and your general amusement, are:
Aquamarine has a hardness factor of 7.5, on a scale from 1 to 10. Crystals of aquamarine have been found that were up to 39"long, and that figure can be obsolete at any time. It can be found in many countries, world-wide. Aquamarine has been mined in Brazil, Russia, Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Australia, Tanzania, the U.S., China, Kenya, Burma, and elsewhere. |