From the desk of our Gemologist

With all the snow of late, you can probably guess the March birthstone relates perfectly. It’s Aquamarine. This stone gets its name from the Latin words, ‘aqua’ and ‘marina’ which mean “water from the sea.” Sailors believed the Aquamarine had power to calm the seas they were sailing. Now it is believed to promote mental clarity and happiness in marriage.

Aquamarine is closely related to the Emerald because they are both from the Beryl family.  Aquamarines tend to form large crystals which make them suitable for jewelry. These large crystals are typically mined in the Karakoram Mountains of Pakistan. They can also be found in Afghanistan, Africa, China, India, Russia, and South America. Aquamarines are treated with heat to keep their beautiful blue color.

On a hardness scale, this stone ranks at a 7.5-8 out of 10 which means they are harder than most other gemstones.  But like with any other stone, you must take care by having your jeweler examine it every 6-12 months to ensure your jewelry lasts a lifetime!