March Birthstone: Aquamarine
One of March’s two birthstones, aquamarine belongs to the beryl family. Named after the color of seawater, aquamarine ranges in color from light blue to dark blue and even turquoise, and has been associated with water and the ocean since ancient times.
Roman fishermen called the gem “seawater” and used it to pray for protection, safe sailing, and good fishing luck. Two thousand years ago, the Greeks carved patterns into aquamarine to form intaglios.
Aquamarine pairs well with any skin tone or environment. Aquamarine is abundant and affordable, making it a great time to shop for gemstones.
Aquamarine History and Symbolism
Some gemstones are prized for their value, others for their absolutely unique colour: aquamarine is one of them. This brilliant gem is gaining popularity in the jewellery market for its deep blue colour and strong symbolism.
Its name derives from the Latin words "aqua" (water) and "marina" (sea), and like the sea, it symbolises euphoria, a relaxing calm, tranquility and peace; it encourages people to let go of emotions, cleanse the mind and eliminate negative thoughts.
Historically, it was believed to be a treasure of mermaids and used as a talisman by sailors (the Greeks and Romans called it the "sailor's stone") for good luck and protection at sea. In the Middle Ages, people believed that aquamarine cut into a spherical shape had the power of divination, revealing the hidden meaning of reality.
It is also considered to be of significance to prophets, shamans, healers and mystics, and its calming properties are ideal for emotional, spiritual and physical healing.
Today, aquamarine is still associated with the qualities of the ocean, such as tranquility, harmony and balance, and is also considered a symbol of courage and communication.
Aquamarine Characteristic
Aquamarine is a variation of beryl that crystallizes in the hexagonal system and appears as beautiful blue crystals. These crystals can be up to one meter long and are completely transparent.
It is formed from volcanic rocks and is found in granite pegmatites as interwoven clusters of crystals; its properties are also particularly important in industrial fields such as aerospace and nuclear energy due to its high strength and low density.
Its magnificent color depends on the presence of titanium and iron (ferrous iron), and the color ranges from light blue to dark blue-green, from blue-green to green-blue, and from transparent to opaque.
"Milky" aquamarine has a milky white color due to the presence of regular inclusions. You may encounter gems sold as "white aquamarine", please be aware that this is most likely colorless beryl.
Where are Aquamarine found?
Before the discovery of African deposits, the most valuable aquamarine specimens were mined in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais and the Ural Mountains around 1830. Brazil remains one of the world’s largest exporters of aquamarine, known for its large, high-clarity aquamarines, producing the most expensive variety, Santa Maria.
Aquamarine has also been mined from deposits in other countries, including Nigeria, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Zambia...
The aquamarine pegmatite veins in the mountains of Pakistan are extremely difficult to mine, but they can produce very high-quality stones with a light sea blue color and excellent clarity.
What color is Aquamarine?
Aquamarine ranges in color from light blue to dark blue-green, depending on the amount of iron in the crystal structure.
Aquamarines with a more saturated blue are more valuable, and larger stones are usually more intense.
Heat treatment is often used to remove the yellow to enhance the blue. You rarely see aquamarine darker than Swiss blue topaz, and when you do, the color is usually more vivid due to the cut.
Types of Aquamarine
Tatu Aquamarine
This aquamarine also comes from Brazil, one of the countries that has the most minerals to offer. Shortly after its discovery, it quickly became one of the stars among jewellers around the world. Its colour is reminiscent of some of the wild seas of South America. A mystical and fascinating gemstone.
Bauchi Aquamarine
This delicate aquamarine is a soft ice blue with a very elegant colour. In addition to Brazil, African countries have also increasingly made a name for themselves as mining countries for beautiful aquamarines in recent years. The Bauchi aquamarine is named after its location in the state of Bauchi in Nigeria in West Africa.
São Domingos Aquamarine
Brazilian stones also include the São Domingos aquamarine, which was discovered by chance on the cattle farm that gave the stone its name and comes in a classic aquamarine pastel blue colour.
Boca Rica Aquamarine
The Boca Rica aquamarine is also named after its Brazilian mine, which produces aquamarines with exotic sea-foam and ocean-like green tones.
Pedra Azul Aquamarine
The Pedra Azul aquamarine has an overwhelmingly intense, dark blue colour and also comes from Brazil.
AAA Aquamarine
The AAA rating is proof of the perfection of this gemstone. AAA aquamarines are of higher quality than other gemstones from the same area of origin. They have a more intense colour and fewer inclusions, although aquamarines rarely show inclusions to the naked eye.
Cat's Eye Aquamarine
The aquamarine cat's eye is extremely impressive: this effect is virtually unheard of in aquamarines. It is caused by the reflection of long, needle-shaped, parallel inclusions. Aquamarine cat's eye was and is found in Brazil, Madagascar, Mozambique, Zambia, Nigeria and Tanzania.
Santa Teresa Aquamarine
The Santa Teresa aquamarine also comes from Brazil. It enchants with its brilliant turquoise-blue colour. This special material has a first-class crystallisation that makes even the Santa Maria look pale in terms of lustre. In terms of colour, the two stones are the same, although the depth of colour of Santa Maria is greater, but the crystallisation of Santa Teresa is unsurpassed.
Santa Maria Aquamarine
The Santa Maria aquamarine is a rare aquamarine in an intense deep blue colour from the Brazilian Santa Maria de Itabira deposit. Santa María de Itabira is located in Minas Gerais in the south-east of Brazil. In the beginning, gold was sought here - as in the entire region. However, hardly any gold was mined. At the beginning of the 20th century, aquamarine was found, the best quality ever seen.
What are the most famous Aquamarines?
The Dom Pedro Aquamarine
The Dom Pedro Aquamarine is the largest cut aquamarine in the world.
It was found around 1980 in Pedra Azul, Minas Gerais, Brazil, the gem is named after Brazilian emperors Pedro I and Pedro II. And was cut into an obelisk shape, the gem weighs 10,363 carats.
It is now in the Janet Annenberg Hooker Geology Gallery at the National Museum of Natural History.
Princess Diana's Aquamarine Ring
It is believed that the ring was custom-made for Princess Diana to match a pearl and aquamarine bracelet she already owned.
Diana was first spotted wearing the ring and matching bracelet during a trip to Sydney in 1996. The ring itself is estimated to weigh about 30 carats.
Her son Prince Harry later gave it to his wife Meghan Markle, who wore it on her wedding day as a "blue embellishment."
The Brazilian Aquamarine Tiara
Of the many tiaras that Garrard has created for the British royal family, few are as striking as Queen Elizabeth II's Brazilian Aquamarine Tiara.
Towering and majestic, and set with an impressive array of aquamarines, the tiara was a gift from the president of Brazil on behalf of the Brazilian people for 15 years.
Commissioned by Queen Elizabeth II in 1957, the tiara was later returned to Garrard in 1971 with some significant improvements, including a large aquamarine on the front of the tiara.
March’s Second Birthstone: Bloodstone
One of March’s two birthstones, bloodstone is a unique variation of chalcedony. Its deep green base is dotted with blood-red iron oxide flecks, creating a strong visual contrast. Bloodstone is highly regarded for its deep cultural symbolism and mysterious energy. In medieval Europe it was known as the “stone of martyrs”; in the Eastern Ayurvedic tradition it is an important healing crystal and remains a popular position for men’s jewellery today.
Bloodstone History and Symbolism
Ancient Civilization's Sunstone
"Heliotrope" (the ancient name for bloodstone) comes from the ancient Greek words "hēlios" (sun) and "trepein" (turn), implying its sacred connection with the sun.
Pliny recorded in "Natural History" that soaking bloodstone in water can cause sunlight to refract into a bloody halo, and ancient Egyptian priests used it to predict solar eclipses.
Mesopotamian clay tablets (3000 BC) show that bloodstone powder mixed with honey can heal battlefield wounds, and warriors often inlaid bloodstone amulets in their armor.
The Sanctification of Christ's Blood
Medieval Christianity gave bloodstone a new symbol: Legend has it that when Jesus was crucified, the blood dripping from the cross seeped into green jasper and turned into bloodstone.
The 13th century "Gems" recorded that bloodstone can manifest stigmata and stop bleeding, so it became the designated material for bishops' rings.
The Vatican Treasure House houses Benedict XIII's bloodstone chalice, and the red spots on the cup wall are interpreted as "the embodiment of Christ's precious blood."
This religious association led to its peak during the Renaissance, when masters such as Cellini used it to carve religious scenes.
Cross-cultural energy totems
In the Indian Ayurvedic system, bloodstone corresponds to the root chakra (Muladhara), called "raktapashana" (bloodstone), and is used to purify blood toxins.
In Japanese Bushido culture, the handle of a bloodstone short sword symbolizes "the courage to not fear bloodshed."
Modern crystal therapy emphasizes triple energy: the green base corresponds to the healing power of the earth, the red spots stimulate the passion for life, and the iron element strengthens willpower.
In 2016, an experiment by the London Crystal Energy Institute showed that the heart rate variability (HRV) of subjects holding bloodstone increased by 23%, proving its calming effect.
Where are Bloodstone found?
Western India is the world's largest bloodstone producing area, and it still uses traditional manual mining methods: miners knock along the basalt joints to extract walnut-sized raw stones. The bloodstone produced is white vein-like, called the typical "Indian bloodstone".
The bloodstone in the Brazilian deposits coexists with aquamarine. They use semi-mechanized screening, but in recent years, due to environmental disputes, the output has declined. The red spots of Brazilian bloodstone are scattered in a star shape, and are locally called "holy bloodstone".
The conglomerate bloodstone in Australia contains golden spots and has become a collection treasure due to the exhaustion of the mine.
The bloodstone in Inner Mongolia, China is dark green, with sparse red spots like ink. It was once used as a seal material for the Qing Dynasty court.
The most special is the riverbed collection in Wyoming, USA: after the spring snow melts, herders screen the washed bloodstone pebbles in the green river.
What color is Bloodstone?
Bloodstone is a cryptocrystalline aggregate of the trigonal system. Its green color comes from chlorite inclusions and trace chromium, while its red color depends on the crystallinity of hematite.
The Idar-Oberstein Gem Laboratory in Germany found that the red spots with sharp edges are primary hematite (higher value), and the foggy ones are secondary limonite.
GIA divides bloodstone into three levels:
Level 1 (Premium) must meet the "peacock green base color + ≥30% bright red spots";
Level 2 (Classic) allows a small amount of yellow spots;
Level 3 (Commercial) contains gray-green tones.
Rare varieties include:
- "Sunset Bloodstone" - pyrite inclusions form golden stars;
- "Blood Drop Stone" - a single large red spot in the center.
It is worth noting that about 3% of Indian bloodstones show a cat's eye effect under fiber optic lights, due to parallel arrangement of goethite fibers.
Types of Bloodstone
Indian Bloodstone
The most classic and valuable variety, Indian Bloodstone has a deep forest green base with contrasting bright red spots, sometimes with white or yellow spots.
Mainly produced in the Kathiawa Peninsula in India, it has been used to carve religious objects and seals in history.
It has become the first choice in the jewelry market because of its high color saturation and uniform pattern.
African Bloodstone / Setonite
Also known as "Setonite", African Bloodstone has a green chalcedony base with scarlet or burgundy spots that may be distributed on the surface or show through the inside.
Mainly produced in Madagascar and South Africa, it is often mixed with brown or yellow spots, forming a more complex color combination.
The price is relatively affordable but the pattern is unique.
Australian Bloodstone
This type of bloodstone features a blue-green to dark green base, with small and scattered red spots, often coexisting with jasper or moss agate to form a white or yellow texture.
Mainly distributed in the Katherine area of the Northern Territory, it has a dark base color and sparse spots, which makes it more rugged and natural, suitable for carving and earth-tone jewelry design.
Plasma
Plasma is a rare variant of bloodstone, with a pure green base (no red) and dotted with gold, white or brown "freckles".
Its green comes from chlorite, and the gold spots are due to pyrite inclusions, forming a moss-like texture.
It is mostly used for collection rather than mainstream jewelry.
Brazilian Bloodstone
Brazilian Bloodstone has a bright green base, large and densely distributed red spots, often accompanied by yellow or brown areas, and the edges may be translucent.
Produced in Minas Gerais, it has a high hardness (Mohs 7), suitable for cutting into cabochon gems, and has a medium price but strong color vitality.
American Bloodstone
American Bloodstone is mostly produced in western states such as California and Nevada. The base is gray-green or soft moss green, and the spots are brown-red with low contrast.
Because of its lighter color and more impurities, its market value is lower, but local designers often use it to make natural-style jewelry.