Thursday, March 5, 2009

Aquamarine March's Birth Stone


Aquamarine is a beautiful pale green to dark blue gemstone that is valued for it's tough hardness, exquisite color , and inclusion free clarity.

The more intense the color of an aquamarine the higher its value.

It is as popular as ruby or emerald but because it is more common it is also more affordable. Aquamarine is a member of the beryl family which also includes emerald. It has a hardness of 7.5-8 on the Moh's scale and a wonderful shine. Iron is the substance which gives aquamarine it's color.

Aquamarine literally means "water of the sea".
Aquamarine is mined primarily in Brazil, Africa, and Madagascar with lesser sources in Russia, China and The United States. It's lovely blue colors inspires such names as Santa Maria, Espirito Santo, and Martha Rocha to differentiate the sources.

Many aquamarines are greenish or pale blue when mined and cut. Those gemstones are heat treated to provide a purer blue color. Most aquamarines on the market today are heat treated. Heat treatment is permanent so these stones do not require additional care.

Aquamarine is the traditional birth stone for March.
It is associated with the zodiac sign Pisces and the planet Neptune.
It is said to be the best stone for the throat chakra.

Legends claim that Aquamarine is the treasure of mermaids and that it has the power to keep sailors safe at sea.
People in the middle ages believed that aquamarine could overcome the effects of poison.
Aquamarine is said to heightened awareness, enhance creativity, encourage insight and relax your mind. It enhances intellectual abilities.

Because of it's strength aquamarine does not require special care. They may be cleaned with a soft cloth or mild soap and water.

The FamiLee Jewels will be featuring aquamarine jewelry in our weekend storefront At The Warehouse 20 Learned Street Albany NY Weekends 10-3.

1 comment:

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