The March Birthstone is Aquamarine

Aquamarine is the traditional birthstone for March and is one of our favourite blue stones. It is from the ‘Beryl’ family of gemstones (of which Emerald is also a member) and as the name suggests, it is from the Latin words meaning seawater. Aquamarine is primarily valued on its colour and can range from an almost colourless pale blue to a blue-green or teal. Aquamarine can be cut into any shape and due to its excellent clarity it is particularly stunning in rectangular or square cuts where fewer number of facets requires a high clarity gemstone in order to appeal to the eye. It is also relatively hard and durable which makes it an excellent coloured stone option in unusual dress rings.

Aquamarines are found in a number of countries including Brazil, Kenya, Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Russia. The largest aquamarine of gemstone quality ever mined was found in Marambaia, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 1910. It weighed over 110 kg, and neared half a metre in diameter. The largest cut aquamarine is the Dom Pedro aquamarine, now housed in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History and is in the form of an obelisk weighing 10,363 carats (26kg)!

We enjoy designing unusual aquamarine jewellery and particularly love using aquamarine in our unusual diamond rings. Aquamarine also makes a fabulous feature in pendants such as the silver aquamarine cabochon pendant pictured above.