
March’s birthstone is the lovely blue Aquamarine. Here’s 10 fun facts about this watery gem!
- The name “aquamarine” comes from the Romans, who named it after seawater.
- A type of beryl, aquamarines are related to emeralds, May’s birthstone.
- Roman sailors wore aquamarines to keep them safe and to calm rough seas.
- Aquamarines were also said to ensure happy marriages.
- To make a greenish aquamarine more blue, heat-treatments may be used.
- Aquamarines have a hardness of 7.5 to 8, so they can easily damage soft stones. Still, keep them from away from sapphires, rubies or diamonds, as they can scratch your aquamarines.
- The largest gem-quality aquamarine ever found (so far) weighs around 110 kilos and is almost 19 inches long!
- Aquamarines usually grow as large crystals and can be very clear. This makes them highly prized by mineral specimen collectors.
- Because they tend to grow as large, clear crystals, aquamarines are a favorite material of stone carvers, and are often used to make statues and other such works.
- Aquamarines are also associated with the 19th wedding anniversary.