Ancient mariners believed the diamond would calm the waves and keep sailors safe at sea because the term aquamarine is derived from the Latin for seawater. It was also believed that people born in March will have happy marriages. Beryl was thought to provide wearers with defense against adversaries in conflict and legal proceedings. Additionally, it was believed to sharpen the mind and make the wearer more amicable and impregnable.
In addition to being the March birthstone, aquamarine is also presented as a gift on the 19th wedding anniversary. For instance, the Brazilian government awarded First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt a 1,298 carat dark blue rectangle step cut aquamarine in 1936. (ct). It was the largest of two stones faceted from an outstanding 2.9 pound chunk of aquamarine raw (1.3 kilograms). The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, New York, is where it is now kept. The 10,363 ct (or 4.6 pounds) Dom Pedro Aquamarine, regarded as the world’s largest faceted aquamarine, is a well-known exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution. Berndt Munsteiner, a renowned German lapidary, created the about 14-inch (36-centimeter) tall obelisk using the fantasy cut technique.
In This Article...
What birthstone actually belongs to March?
Aquamarine. The calmness of its namesake, the sea, is evoked by the aquamarine’s soothing hue. In actuality, the Latin words aqua, which means water, and marina, which means sea, are the sources of the name aquamarine.
Aquamarine
The gemstones emerald, morganite, and heliodor are also forms of the mineral beryl, which also includes aquamarine, popularly known as the “poor man’s diamond.” There are four components that make up beryl: beryllium, aluminum, silicon, and oxygen. In rock veins that are not damaged by stress or weathering, which would otherwise destroy gem deposits, beryl appears as free six-sided crystals. It ranks as the sixth most durable stone after topaz, alexandrite, sapphire, diamond, and sapphire.
Due to iron traces in the beryl crystal, aquamarines range in color from deep blue to blue-green with varying intensities.
The most valuable and scarce gemstones are those that are naturally deep blue.
But by heating yellow beryl crystals, they can turn into blue aquamarines.
Brazil is the greatest country for buying aquamarines for commerce.
In addition to Colombia, India, the Malagasy island, and the Ural Mountains in Russia, high-quality stones can also be found there.
The best sources are in North Carolina, Maine, and Colorado in the United States.
Aquamarine lore
Because it resembled sea water, the Romans gave it the name aquamarine, which they derived from the Latin words aqua, which means water, and mare, which means sea. Aquamarines were thought to have come from sirens’ treasure chests that had washed up on shore from the bottom of the sea. Neptune, the sea god of the Romans, revered them as holy. Due to its connection to the water, it became known as the sailors’ gem, promising both successful and safe voyages as well as protection against marine dangers and sea monsters. Greeks used it for the first time that is known of between 480 and 300 BCE. The Greek deity of the sea Poseidon was carved on aquamarine amulets that they wore.
Aquamarine is thought to have been utilized as eyewear by Emperor Nero 2,000 years ago.
In Germany, glasses made of aquamarines were eventually used to treat shortsightedness.
In fact, today’s German for eyeglasses is “brille ,” a word related to beryl.
Aquamarine was thought by the Romans to have medicinal and restorative properties that could treat conditions of the stomach, liver, jaws, and throat.
The aquamarine was thought to be a poison remedy during the Middle Ages. Soothsayers referred to it as the “used a magic mirror to read fortunes and provide future predictions.
Bloodstone
The bloodstone is the second birthstone for March. Bloodstone is a variety of the common mineral quartz, commonly referred to as heliotrope. This particular type of quartz, called cryptocrystalline quartz, is composed of numerous little quartz crystals that have joined together to form substantial lumps, none of which have any discernible external crystal structure, but each of which is a real crystal. Another name for this type of quartz is chalcedony. Bloodstone is green chalcedony that has red specks throughout. Bloodstone can be found as pebbles in riverbeds or imbedded in rocks. India, Brazil, and Australia are the finest countries to find this stone.
The Crucifixion is especially well-liked among religious subjects to be carved in bloodstone.
Around 1525, the Italian carver Matteo del Nassaro produced a particularly well-known carving.
The artist meticulously constructed “The Descent from the Cross” such that the bloodstone’s scarlet flecks and drops of blood portrayed Christ’s wounds.
Bloodstone is said to have developed during Christ’s crucifixion.
The bloodstone was made when a Roman soldier-guard pierced Christ with his spear, causing blood to fall over several dark green jasper shards that were resting at the foot of the cross.
This stone was a favorite of Roman gladiators and was also utilized by the Babylonians to create seals and amulets.
Bloodstone was thought to have medicinal properties in the Middle Ages, especially for halting nosebleeds.
When ground up and combined with honey and egg white, it was thought to treat tumors and stop all forms of bleeding.
It was employed by early alchemists to cure conditions affecting the blood, such as blood poisoning and bleeding from wounds.
Bloodstone was also said to draw out snake poison.
Aquamarine or bloodstone is the birthstone for March.
Aquamarine and bloodstone are the birthstones for March. It comes in blue or blue-green hues. Its name, aqua marinus, which means “water of the sea” in Latin, refers to the serene blue tint of the water. Bloodstone, also known as heliotrope, is named for its dark green color and red spots.
What color is March?
Birthstone for March: aquamarine. Pale blue is the birthstone for March. March’s birthstone is aquamarine. You are here: Home > Education > Gems & Gemology. Pale blue is the birthstone for March.
Is aquamarine a stone of luck?
March babies are fortunate enough to have two birthstones: the entrancing aquamarine and the enigmatic bloodstone with scarlet spots. Here, we explore the mythical meanings of aquamarine and learn why this sky-blue diamond is regarded as a talisman of protection, good fortune, and bravery.
The typical blue tones of this well-known stone are appropriate given that aquamarine’s Latin name means “water of the sea” in English. The mermaid’s stone is said to grant sailors luck and shield them from the dangers of ocean passage, according to legend.
Aquamarine is regarded in crystal healing as having calming energy that calms phobias or unreasonable worries. It is supposed to assist public speakers feel more confident because it is connected to the throat chakra.
Aquamarine is a gemstone that belongs to the beryl family, which also includes emerald, heliodor, morganite, and goshenite. The pale blue to vivid blue color of aquamarine, which is brought on by the presence of iron in its chemical makeup, sets it apart from these jewels.
To improve their color, many aquamarines on the market have undergone heat treatment. A beryl that is yellow, green, or bluish-green can be heated to produce a persistent blue color or irradiated to create heliodor’s yellow color.
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Pleochroism in aquamarine refers to the simultaneous presentation of many color tones. Aquamarine that hasn’t been treated can be any color, including white and colorless. On the Mohs scale, it is 7.5 out of 10.
Birthstone color for March?
The two birthstones for March, aquamarine and bloodstone, are very different from one another in terms of look, but they are both known for guarding against harm. The sea’s hues are conjured up by the aquamarine birthstone. Faceted aquamarines range in color from deep green-blue to light, somewhat greenish blue hues, and are frequently devoid of impurities and as pure as water, signifying the purity of the spirit and soul. As the “blood that offers health and strength to the wearer,” the bloodstone birthstone is often a dark-green cabochon with scarlet streaks of iron oxide. Continue reading to find out more about the meanings and locations of these two birthstones for March.
What does the term “bloodstone” mean?
The bloodstone is regarded as a stone of bravery. Bloodstones were thought to be mystical stones in antiquity. In order to staunch the bleeding from their wounds and to shield themselves from the evil eye, warriors used to carry bloodstone amulets.
How do bloodstones appear?
An opaque polycrystalline chalcedony (a kind of quartz) known as bloodstone is made up of dark green jasper with bigger patches of scarlet iron oxide inclusions.
The term comes from the way these inclusions mimic blood spots. Red is the most well-known and well-liked color for inclusions, while other colors like yellow or white are also possible. Bloodstone can be found in places like India, Brazil, Australia, Germany, the United States, Italy, and South Africa buried in rocks or in riverbeds.
Agate, onyx, carnelian, sard, prase, aventurine, tiger’s eye, and silicified wood are further varieties of polycrystalline quartz.
What does aquamarine imply as a gemstone?
Aquamarine is said to symbolize eternal youth, happiness, and hope in the gem-language. Aquamarine was once supposed to provide maritime protection. It was thought to give sailors a fearless nature and keep them safe from foes on open waters.
Are there two birthstones for Pisces?
What are the birthstones for Pisces? Aquamarine, bloodstone, and amethyst are the birthstones for Pisces. We’ll examine these stones in more detail and discuss why they are deserving of the title “stones of Pisces” in this gemstone guide.
