You don’t have to be an expert to understand why March’s birthstone is named aquamarine. Its brilliant blue evokes the beauty of tropical oceans and the icy deep.
A member of the beryl family of minerals, as are emerald and morganite, aquamarine is commonly found as large, well-formed crystals in the US, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Colombia, Zambia, Madagascar, Malawi, Tanzania, and Kenya.
The legends surrounding aquamarine tell of the stone’s calming influence over stormy seas and protective influence over sailors. In ancient times some people even claimed that aquamarine guarded against sea monsters and was the treasure of mermaids.
Its calming and serene colour has been claimed to quiet anger, increase friendliness and intelligence, and enhance happiness in marriage. Good thing anyone can wear aquamarine—not just those lucky enough to have been born in March.
Gemstones have been imbued with spiritual meaning for eons, dating back to the breastplate of Aaron that contained 12 gemstones representing the signs of the zodiac and the tribes of Israel. The modern birthstone list was established by the National Association of Jewellers in 1912, with a few updates over the years.