Aquamarine is the blue to blue-green version of the mineral beryl. Its name comes from the Latin for seawater, and ancient mariners claimed the gem would calm waves and keep sailors safe at sea. This March birthstone was also thought to bring happiness in marriage. Beryl of all colors was believed to give the wearer protection against foes in battle and litigation. It was also thought to make the wearer unconquerable and amiable.
Aquamarine is not only the birthstone for March, but the gem is also given as a present on the 19th wedding anniversary. As for famous ones, in 1936 the government of Brazil gave First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt a dark blue rectangular step cut aquamarine that weighed 1,298 carats. It was the larger of two stones faceted from a piece of aquamarine rough that itself weighed an impressive 2.9 pounds. It is now housed at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, New York. A celebrated attraction at the Smithsonian Institution is the 10,262 carat Dom Pedro aquamarine – believed to be the largest faceted aquamarine in the world. The approximately 14-inch-high obelisk was fashioned by acclaimed German lapidary Berndt Munsteiner using the fantasy cut technique.
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With a hardness of 7.5-8 out of 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, this March birthstone is durable enough for everyday wear. Caring for the gem is easy. Use warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft bristle toothbrush to scrub behind the birthstone where dirt can collect, rinse well, and pat dry. Ultrasonic cleaners and steam cleaning are usually safe options as long as there are no fractures or liquid inclusions in the gem.
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The Brazilian state of Minas Gerais has been an important source of aquamarine for the past two centuries. Travel there and you’ll find a changing panorama of landscapes: rocky hills, rivers, and scrub brush dominate the central and eastern regions; savannahs, forests, and streams checker the west; and lush green hills roll southward. Aquamarines are found in primary and secondary pegmatite deposits in the eastern portion of the state, near the gem center of Teófilo Otoni.
Aquamarine is also found high in the Karakorum foothills of Pakistan. To reach the deposits, miners must climb steep paths to elevations of 9,800-13,000+ feet and work the sides of foreboding cliffs. Below this inhospitable rocky world lie fertile valleys, rushing rivers, and small towns. Aquamarine from this area has been described as “water clear.”
Aquamarine birthstones are also mined in Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Zambia, Mozambique, as well as elsewhere in Africa. U.S. sources include the Mount Antero area of Colorado and California’s Riverside & San Diego counties. In addition, aquamarine has been found in China, Myanmar, Russia, and Ukraine, among other countries.
Find stunning new and vintage aquamarine jewelry at Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers on San Diego Avenue! Our selection changes daily, so check back often for the best deals.