Faithfulness, serenity, courage, hope, kindness, loyalty, friendship - there are so many qualities associated with the Aquamarine gemstone. Here's a bit about the gem, considered to be extremely lucky for people born in the month of March.

 

 

Aquamarine, the birthstone of the month of March is, more often than not, considered as one of the most beautiful and the most sophisticated gemstones in the world. The name is derived from the words 'aqua', meaning sea and 'marina', meaning water. So, it literally means 'sea water'. This stone is a part of the beryl family and comes in several hues ranging from slight icy blue to pastel greenish blue. It is found mainly in Brazil, but are also at other places around the world such as Nigeria, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Zambia.

Due to its marine connection, the Aquamarine was considered to be lucky for sailors, since it ensured a safe waterborne journey. In the ancient past, sailors often wore the stone in the form of an amulet. The Egyptians, the Romans and the Greeks placed great value on the powers of this stone. They said that the stone invoked the water spirits, ensuring a safe journey by sea. It was considered to be a symbol of everlasting youth and therefore, was quite prized. It was also believed to contain magical and healing properties. Soothsayers and fortune tellers used this stone as the source of their power. Even now, the stone is said to cause good sleep and cure eye trouble. It is also believed that it ensures a long and happy married life. Since the color of the aquamarine resembles that of the ocean, it is said to give the wearer a purity of body and spirit. 

 

 

Facts about the Aquamarine 

xe2x9cxb0 Apart from being a birthstone of the month of March, the Aquamarine is also the gemstone for the 19th wedding anniversary. That explains why it is believed to reawaken the love between married couples. 

xe2x9cxb0 The gem is also often connected with Neptune, the Roman god of the sea. 

xe2x9cxb0 The stone is associated with the 12th sign of zodiac, Pisces, and therefore, it is considered to be lucky for those born between February 20 and March 20. 

xe2x9cxb0 The stone symbolizes courage, faithfulness, friendship, awareness, and easy flow of ideas. 

 

Buying an Aquamarine 

xe2x9cxb0 See to it that the aquamarine you are buying has only minor inclusions, if at all. In other words, it should not have visible traces of any other substance. Make sure that your stone is as clean and clear as possible 

xe2x9cxb0 If you are buying an aquamarine crystal for making casual pieces of jewelry or beads, buy one with interior inclusions which are more noticeable. This is because, despite its hardness of 7.5 to 8 on Mohs scale, it might get damaged in course of shaping. So, buying a crystal with inclusions will save you some moneyxe2x9cxb0 Aquamarines with darker shades are rarer than the lighter ones, and are also more expensive. 

xe2x9cxb0 The stone is available in many sizes and weights. So, decide properly the carat weight of the stone and make sure you pay the right price for it. Generally, good quality aquamarines can be purchased from reputed jewelry outlets. 

xe2x9cxb0 The cuts of an aquamarine are important determinants of its quality and beauty. Hold your stone up in the light and see how the light reflects through its cuts. 

xe2x9cxb0 Aquamarines are available in numerous shapes such as oval, square, heart, round, and so on. So, you can choose a shape that best suits your needs. 

xe2x9cxb0 For enhancing the blueness of your stone, you can ask for the heat treatment. It will make your stone look darker. 

xe2x9cxb0 There is a huge variety of aquamarine jewelry available in the market. So, you can wear it any form you like. You can embed it in your ring, bracelet, necklace, earrings, etc. 

Charging your Aquamarine 

xe2x9cxb0 You can charge the stone, by keeping it overnight in the moonlight. The light of the full moon is the best. 

xe2x9cxb0 To make sure that the stone displays the best of its properties, wash it, and then let it dry in the moonlight. 

xe2x9cxb0 Before wearing it, hold it in your hands, close to your heart chakra, and imagine a white light emanating from it and merging with the white light of your heart chakra. In your mind, tell the stone to give you its best properties. 

xe2x9cxb0 When you feel that the stone has understood you, open your eyes and wear it. 

The Aquamarine is quite a strong stone. You can keep it clean by washing it with a mild soap. You can use a toothbrush to clean the back of the stone. However, do not wash it everyday.