The meaning behind March's birthstone: Aquamarine
Aquamarine is one of...
March’s two birthstones, both share a similar reputation for protecting one’s well-being, but aquamarine evokes the colors of the sea; from deep green-blue to light, slightly greenish blue hues, faceted aquamarines are often free from inclusions and as clear as water, symbolizing purity of spirit and soul.
This stones name comes from the Latin for seawater, and ancient mariners claimed the gem would calm waves and keep sailors safe. It was also thought to bring happiness in marriage. Beryl of which aquamarine is a part of the same family was believed to give the wearer protection against foes in battle and litigation, also thought to make the wearer unconquerable and amiable, and to quicken the intellect.
Aquamarine is given as a present on the 19th wedding anniversary. In 1936 the government of Brazil gave First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt a dark blue rectangular step cut aquamarine that weighed 1,298 carats (ct). The larger of two stones faceted from a piece of aquamarine rough that itself weighed an impressive 2.9 pounds (1.3 kilograms). Now housed at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, New York. The Smithsonian Institution holds a 10,363 ct (about 4.6 pounds) Dom Pedro Aquamarine – believed to be the largest faceted aquamarine in the world. This approximately 36 centimeter high obelisk was fashioned by acclaimed German lapidary Berndt Munsteiner using the fantasy cut technique.
The Brazilian state of Minas Gerais…
has been an important source of aquamarine for the past two centuries. Travel there to find a changing panorama of landscapes: rocky hills, rivers and scrub dominate the central and eastern regions; savannahs, forests and streams to the west; and lush green hills roll southward. Aquamarines can be found in hard rock and weathered pegmatite deposits in the eastern side, near the gem center of Teófilo Otoni.
Aquamarine is also found in the Karakorum foothills of Pakistan. Miners must climb steep paths to elevations of 3,000 to more than 4,000 meters and work the sides of the cliffs. Below this inhospitable rocky world lie fertile valleys, rushing rivers and small towns. Aquamarine from this area has been described as “water clear.”
Care and cleaning…
With a hardness of 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale, this stone is durable enough for everyday wear. Use warm water, mild dish soap and a toothbrush to scrub behind the stone where dirt can collect. Ultrasonic cleaners and steam cleaning are usually safe options as long as there are no fractures or liquid inclusions in the gem.