It is finally March, a month dedicated to longer nights, the start of (hopefully) more Spring-like weather, and–of course–St. Patrick’s Day if you are Irish (which, to be honest, all of us are a little bit on St. Patrick’s Day!). March is also a month to celebrate the beautiful aquamarine, which is this month’s stunning birthstone. A glorious gemstone with shades of blue that range from a pale, icy blue to a seafoam-green, all the way to a deeper, saturated blue, aquamarines have a universal appeal. In this month’s blog post, we will be examining the history and uses of this beautiful gem–as well as examining some stunning aquamarine pieces we have in-stock at Gilded Design Studio!
What is an Aquamarine?
Aquamarine is a variety of the mineral beryl, the same family that includes amethysts (February’s birthstone!) and morganite, a peachy-pink gem. As mentioned above, aquamarines vary in color from a pale blue, to a greenish-blue, to a deeply saturated ocean blue–or, as many have come to think of it, every shade of the ocean. This gorgeous gem primarily gets its distinctive hue from trace amounts of iron within the crystal structure, and is typically eye-clean and very transparent (again, like ocean water!). Typically, deeper blue aquamarines tend to be the most valuable and highly prized for jewelry, but every shade of this stunning gem can look wonderful depending on your personal color preference. Aquamarines boast a 7.5-8 on the Moh’s Scale of Hardness, which makes them suitable for everyday wear with proper care. Brazil is the main producer of aquamarines, though they are sourced in other locations such as Madagascar, Pakistan, and Nigeria, among other places. Fun fact: Brazil has produced some of the largest gem-quality aquamarine crystals ever found–some weighing over 100 pounds before cutting!
Aquamarines have a long and storied history across the centuries, especially with this majestic gem’s connection to the sea. Ancient mariners not only carried aquamarine as a talisman for safe voyages, they also believed that it was the treasure of mermaids. It was also thought to rekindle love and ensure happy marriages (today, it is a traditional gift for a 19th wedding anniversary). In the Middle Ages, aquamarines were thought to counteract poison, improve foresight, and enhance courage. Today, aquamarine is commonly associated with calmness, clarity, communication, emotional balance, courage, and protection. There have been many famous aquamarines throughout history, including the Dom Pedro Aquamarine, which is the largest faceted aquamarine in the world. This impressive gem stands over 14 inches tall, and is a shocking 10,363 carats! Named after Brazilian emperors Dom Pedro I and II and carved into an obelisk shape by master gem artist Bernd Munsteiner, you can visit the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. to see it for yourself.
How should I wear Aquamarines?
As mentioned previously, aquamarines boast an impressive 7.5-8 on the Moh’s Scale of Hardness, which means that they are suitable for everyday wear, as long as you take care of your aquamarine jewelry properly. While some people choose an aquamarine as a stone for their engagement rings (looking at you, March babies!), you can often find varying shades of this beautiful stone set in earrings, necklaces, statement cocktail rings, tennis bracelets, or even beaded jewelry. Aquamarines boast stunning clarity, and favored cuts for this stone include the ever-popular emerald cut (the step-faceting of which shows off the clarity beautifully), ovals, round brilliants, cushions, pears, and more. Bezel settings (where the metal goes all the way around the stone) are often ideal for aquamarines as it adds another layer of protection to the stone and can prevent accidental chipping. As with all jewelry, we highly advise that you remove your aquamarine pieces prior to activities like working out, showering, gardening, cooking, etc. to prevent damage…and remember, you never want to wear jewelry when you are swimming, as exposure to chlorine can damage the settings and the stones! The safest way to clean your aquamarine jewelry to restore its shine is to gently clean it with mild dish soap, warm water, and a soft brush. While aquamarines can often be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner by a jeweler, some stones have inclusions that can be risky to clean ultrasonically, so it’s best not to try cleaning your aquamarine jewelry in this way by yourself!
Whether or not you were born in March, are shopping for a gift for someone born in March, or you simply love the stunning ocean shades of aquamarines, you can rest assured that adding a piece of jewelry featuring this glorious gemstone will be one that you treasure for years to come. Stop on by to take a look at in-stock pieces of aquamarine we have here at Gilded Design Studio, or let us help you choose some beautiful loose stones to create your very own customized aquamarine piece.
Until next time–keep sparkling!