What Makes Aquamarine the Perfect March Birthstone?

Aquamarine is beautiful, high-quality, and fashionable. But what makes it the perfect March birthstone, specifically? Click here to learn.

Aquamarine. The very name of this remarkable gemstone conjures images of the blue-green sea. 

So it’s no wonder that, for ages, the March birthstone has been prized as a talisman for protecting sailors and seafarers. And its pure, watery, crystalline depths have helped wearers to cleanse their spirits and wash away the spiritual impurities of life. 

As a gem, aquamarine belongs to the family of beryls and has always been among the most coveted of these gemstones. Virtually every society in the ancient world, from the Sumerians and Egyptians, to the Greeks and Romans, have venerated the gem for its protective and healing powers…not to mention its natural beauty. 

It’s a perfect birthstone for those lucky enough to be born in the month of March. So let’s learn a little more about aquamarine, and why it’s such an intriguing gemstone.

A Little Background

Aquamarine, the celebrated March birthday stone, has been revered for millennia. It’s actually a form of beryl—in the same family of gemstones as the emerald—and derives its wonderful pale blue or bluish green color from the presence of iron inclusions. 

The rich, deep-blue variety of aquamarine goes by the peculiar name of maxixe, a reference to the Brazilian tango—for the largest, most spectacular aquamarines, as we will see, hail from that country. 

Which brings us to the best localities to find aquamarines. Brazil, of course, yields the best and the most; Madagascar is also noted for producing maxixe aquamarines. East Africa also has some noted aquamarine deposits, and India was anciently the source of these gems for the Greek and Roman civilizations. 

The United States is another rich source of aquamarines, particularly in the Rocky Mountains. The Bighorns of Wyoming and the Sawtooths of Idaho have aquamarine deposits, but they’re especially rich in Colorado’s Sawatch Range. 

In fact, “Diane’s Pocket,” the largest aquamarine ever found in North America, was discovered at the summit of Mt. Antero, a lofty fourteener in the Sawatch Range. If you’re willing to make the hike up that peak and brave the altitude and lightning-storms, you can even search for aquamarines of your own. 

History of the March Birthstone

Called in Latin aquamarina, “seawater,” from its evocative color, the gem has long been associated with the sea, and was considered by the Romans to be an especially potent charm against the dangers of sea travel. The aquamarine was also invested with powers of purification, and was apparently a cure for laziness. 

The Roman encyclopedist Pliny the Elder celebrated aquamarines in his Naturalis Historia. He called them the most valued of beryls, qui viriditatem maris puri imitantur—“those that imitate the greenness of the clear sea.” 

But it wasn’t always about the seawater. During the Middle Ages, aquamarines also acquired a reputation for oracular powers and magical properties. It became popular as a medium for crafting crystal balls—apparently, aquamarines are good at calling up visions of the future. 

The famous March birthstone has also been credited with curing numerous physical ailments, such as: 

• Stomach disorders
• Eye problems
• Poisoning
• Chronic pain

The most fabled aquamarines are yielded by the Brazilian quarries, which in 1910 actually produced the largest gemstone-grade aquamarine ever found. Weighing over 243 pounds, it was found in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Alas, it was quickly cut into smaller gemstones. 

The largest cut aquamarine gem, the Dom Pedro Aquamarine, weighs over 10,000 carats, and now resides in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. It’s shaped like a foot-tall obelisk, and it’s pretty spectacular. 

Spiritual Qualities

With such a long and storied history, it should come as little surprise that aquamarines are invested with rich spiritual qualities. We’ve already touched on some of these…but there’s a lot more where that came from. 

As we’ve seen, the gem is associated with the sea and water and confers certain protection upon the seafarer. It also has other associations with water but in a more spiritual sense. 

Peace and Serenity

Aquamarines are useful in purifying one’s mind and soul—in cleansing, washing away, flushing out anxieties and negative energies. It’s also helpful in bringing a sense of calm and well-being and achieving a state of spiritual peace.

Calmness and serenity: those are the kinds of energies most identified with the aquamarine. Just like the calm, soothing rollers of the ocean, aquamarine has the power to drive out unwanted thoughts and anxieties, and bring about a feeling of peace and harmony. 

That’s probably why the gemstone also induces a state of mental clarity in those who wear it on their person. Clearer, sharper thoughts, and a degree of intellectual acuity are the happy benefits of wearing aquamarines. 

Charting a True Path Through Life

It’s also a good idea to fortify yourself with an aquamarine if you’re planning any life changes. That’s the thing about these gemstones—their cleansing and purifying powers clear away all the accumulated debris of life. They have a way of resetting your mind and soul, permitting the genuine self to emerge.

So there’s no stone that’s better to have with you than an aquamarine if you’re looking to make some serious changes in your life. Whether it’s a change of career, relocating to a new city or state, or shaking up your personal life, an aquamarine can help you stay authentic to your true self, and guide you through life’s choppiest waters. 

Find the Finest Aquamarine Birthstones at TVON

Whether you were born in March, or you’re looking for a gift for a loved one who came into the world in that month, TVON has a fantastic selection of March birthstones for your perusal. 

We’re always ready to assist you in choosing the very best aquamarines or any other gemstones you might desire. Just contact us here on our site, or give us a call at (626) 626-8700.