March

Home / Birthstones / March

mar

mar gem

Aquamarine

Symbolizing the near-perfect clarity and transparency of the ocean, the sheer beauty of aquamarine, with its wonderful color and fantastic clarity, makes it popular with both the collector and the wearer of fine jewelry. It will come as no surprise that its name was derived from the Latin word for "water of the sea."

Just the facts

Colored by trace amounts of iron, aquamarine is a member of the beryl family, whose members also include emerald, red emerald (bixbite), goshenite (colorless), heliodor (yellow), and morganite (pink). The color ranges, depending on the relative concentrations and location of iron within the beryl crystal structure. While noted for its excellent clarity, inclusions are more prevalent (and accepted) in the more intense hues.

Aquamarines Include:

Cushion, Trillion

Aquamarine	March's Birthstone
Major Sources	Afghanistan, Brazil, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nambia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tanzania & Zambia
Colors Found	Pastel Blue to Bluish Green
Family	Beryl: Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈
Hardness	7.5 - 8
Refractive Index	1.56 - 1.60; Uniaxial (+)
Specific Gravity	2.68 - 2.74
Crystal System	Hexagonal

Game Day Glow!!

March

Aquamarine

Just the facts

Aquamarines Include: