AQUAMARINE, BIRTHSTONE FOR MARCH
My sister Valerie's birthday is on 28 March and this beautiful gem is her and other March babies' birthstone. Aquamarine is not generally a stone we see and talk about everyday. When Megan Markle wore princess Diana’s beautiful aquamarine ring to her wedding reception, it was admired and briefly talked about.
This stone with it’s dreamy colour ranging from a pale blue to blue green, was once called the poor man’s diamond. To put it in perspective, the price of a one carat aquamarine ring will start from around R5,000 while a one carat diamond ring will set you back from R80,000 depending on the grading of the diamond.
Aquamarine is the birthstone for March as well as the suggested gem to give on the 16th and 19th wedding anniversaries. The name “Aquamarine” is derived from the Latin words “aqua” and “marina” (water of the sea) and even the colour of the stone is similar to seawater. At first, the stone was referred to as seagreen beryl and was named “Aquamarine” from the early 1600s.
Both Emerald and Aquamarine are members of the Beryl variety of gemstones and have the same hardness: 7.5 to 8 on Moh’s scale. It is suitable for daily wear, but store aquamarine separate from other gems to prevent scratches. Aquamarine is mined around the world including Brazil, Zambia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Pakistan and Mozambique.
Folklore and legend:
Aquamarine symbolizes happiness and everlasting youth and is believed to endow the wearer with foresight, courage and loyalty. The serene blue colour is believed to invoke the calming properties of the sea, helping to cool tempers and allow the wearer to remain calm and levelheaded. As a healing stone, it is believed to lower stress and anxiety as it creates peace, calm and tranquility.
Ancient sailors believed that this stone would protect them and guarantee a safe sea-voyage. Aquamarine jewellery and amulets dating back to 500 BC, were found in early excavation sites. Aquamarine is the sacred jewel of Neptune, Greek god of the sea, and it was believed to have fallen from the treasure chest of a mermaid.
People in the Middle Ages believed that wearing Aquamarine would protect them from being poisoned. The Romans would carve a frog into the gem and believed that an enemy drinking from the piece, will turn enemies into friends. Ancient medicines were made from aquamarine powder to help cure a variety of infections, eye ailments and allergic reactions.
Aquamarine is a popular stone with healers, shamans, mystics and prophets because it was believed that its reflective properties and symmetry could reveal hidden aspects of reality and things deep within our souls.
Aquamarines adorning the Royals:
Aquamarine is truly a remarkable gem and and anyone lucky enough to own one, can display it with pride.
Till we chat again, love and light.
Shirley Rose