Fine Aquamarine Drops
If you were born in March, you not only get to lay claim to the spring harbinger month, but also to one of the most uniquely gorgeous gems as your birthstone. Aquamarine has a distinctive green-blue hue, which can run from a pale pastel to a rich, highly-saturated tone.
Rare and often expensive, fine cuts of aquamarine are not only beautiful, but also carry significant meaning in gemological lore throughout history. Here is a list of interesting - and perhaps little known - facts about March’s token stone.
It Is A Cousin To Emerald
Both Emerald and Aquamarine are part of the mineral species called “beryl.” There is significant history noting that individuals who wear beryl are brought protection; those who wear it are said to be increasingly quick-thinking, amiable, and unconquerable.
It Is Linked to A Strong Marriage
Aquamarine is thought to bring happiness within a marriage, and has traditionally been given as a present to celebrate the 19th wedding anniversary. In particular, it’s a great stone for pendants and earrings, but requires more care when it’s set in a high-use piece like a ring or a bracelet.
It Has Been Adored For Generations
Sea Grass Earrings by Keith Field
Aquamarine pieces were particularly embraced during the Art Deco period, and can be found in many vintage and antique collections. Famously, Elanor Roosevelt was gifted an aquamarine gem in 1936 that weighed 1,298 carats, and is now housed at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in New York. Still widely popular today, aquamarine’s beauty and rarity has a timeless allure.
It Has Local Roots
Although aquamarine is prevalent in Brazil, Pakistan, and many parts of Africa, it is also mined in our home state of Maine. Similar to the origins of tourmaline, towns like Topsham and parts of Oxford county also produce significant amounts of aquamarine.
Its Color Correlates to Its Size
The larger an aquamarine stone is, the more intense its color is, which is why you’ll rarely see a stone that’s both small in size and saturated in color. Aquamarine stones below a carat in size typically have a paler color, and can look almost clear.
Handmade Nautical Pendants by Keith Field
It’s Said to Bring Calm It’s commonly known that the name “aquamarine” is derived from the Latin “aqua” (meaning water) and “marina” (meaning of the sea.) However, it may be lesser known that the gem was carried by ancient mariners who claimed it was successful in calming waves and keeping them safe at sea.