March:
Aquamarine
Aquamarine, the lovely blue-green member of the beryl family,
has been used in jewelry since the third century B.C. and
is one of the most fashionable gemstones today. For hundreds
of years it was called "The Sailor's Stone," due
to its sea-like colors, ranging from a pale sky blue to
a deep blue-green, and was thought to protect sailors and
people traveling over water.
The earliest aquamarine probably came from India, where
it was highly regarded by Hindu mystics as an aid to promoting
mental clarity and to improving one's public speaking.
Medieval alchemists believed aquamarine would prevent excess
water retention in the body and enhance the digestive and
eliminative functions. In the medieval alchemical charts
of gem properties, aquamarine is shown as ruling the kidneys,
bladder and urethra. 19th Century Chinese carvers produced
snuff bottles and delicate figurines out of larger pieces
of aquamarine, because it is easy to carve and polishes
beautifully.
Even today, many people who believe in the spiritual properties
of gemstones wear aquamarine to give them religious and
mental inspiration, provide inner calm and enhance both
verbal and written communication. Aquamarine's popularity
helped make it a March birthstone earlier this century.
Queen Elizabeth II owns a matched set of aquamarine necklace,
bracelet and earrings given to her by the Brazilian people
shortly after her coronation in 1953. The Queen has added
a matching tiara and sometimes wears the entire aquamarine
ensemble for state occasions or diplomatic receptions.
Aquamarine has always been available in small sizes from
one-half carat up to 10-carat stones. However, finds in
Brazil and Africa have made aquamarine of much larger sizes
more accessible for use in jewelry.
Aquamarine is tough, durable and takes an excellent polish.
Aquas can be worn in rings and bracelets with minimal risk
if the settings are designed to protect the gems. Avoid
steam cleaning or excess heat. Clear stones, called eye-clean,
are free of inclusions to the naked eye and can be worn
under most conditions.
Recently designers have begun combining aquamarines with
golden citrines, emeralds or tsavorite garnets, sapphires
and pink tourmalines to provide fresh fashion color palettes.
You don't have to be a sailor or a March-born baby to enjoy
the beauty and sparkle of aquamarine. It's a year-round
treasure of a gem.
Styles
